Starting January, Louisiana SNAP recipients will face new restrictions on their food stamp benefits, as soda, energy drinks, and candy will no longer be eligible for purchase. Governor Jeff Landry initiated the change, citing concerns over the negative health impacts of junk food. The move follows his request to the federal government to prohibit sugary foods from being covered under SNAP benefits.
Louisiana’s SNAP program costs the federal government $1.9 billion annually, with $350 million spent on soda alone.
While SNAP recipients will still be able to buy soda and candy using their own money, the waiver introduces a new option: beneficiaries can now use their SNAP benefits to purchase hot rotisserie chickens. This adjustment aims to encourage healthier eating habits among the state’s 800,000 SNAP participants.
