NEW YORK (PIX11) — A new proposal would close “loopholes” in SNAP retailer stocking requirements that allow certain snacks to qualify as staple foods.
There are nearly 266,000 SNAP retailers around the country that redeem roughly $96 billion in benefits per year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Those retailers are required to stock three different foods in the staple categories: dairy, protein, grain and fruits and vegetables — 12 foods total.
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service announced on Wednesday a proposal to tighten rules on certain snacks qualifying as one of these staples. The USDA said the goal is to continue emphasizing the importance of consuming healthy, whole foods.
“No amount of fraud will be tolerated,” the USDA said in its proposal announcement.
The proposal would simplify the classification of foods, making the standard easier to understand, according to the USDA.
“Right now, the bar for stocking food as a SNAP retailer is far too low, allowing people to game the system and leaving vulnerable Americans without healthy food options,” USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said.
The proposed change would also increase the variety requirements to seven per staple food category, more than double the current allotment.
Comments may be submitted by Nov. 24 through the Regulations website, which you can find here.
To learn more about the proposal, click here.