Overview
- Gov. Tate Reeves has asked the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to prohibit SNAP purchases of processed foods and drinks that list sugar, cane sugar, corn syrup or high-fructose corn syrup among the first two ingredients.
- The proposal excludes single-ingredient sugars used for cooking and keeps beverages with low or noncaloric sweeteners eligible for purchase.
- A companion request would allow hot prepared, non-breaded chicken such as rotisserie chicken, coordinated with Double Up Food Bucks incentives for fresh fruits and vegetables.
- USDA has not yet decided on the waiver, and Reeves points to similar restrictions previously approved in a dozen states.
- The move comes as federal SNAP funding faces a Nov. 1 lapse and Mississippi has not pledged state dollars, prompting the Legislative Black Caucus to urge emergency action to protect roughly 357,000 recipient households.