Mississippi appears ready to follow the actions of at least 12 other states, which have restricted the purchase of junk food like sugared soft drinks and candy with money from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
The Magnolia Tribune quoted Gov. Tate Reeves on a radio broadcast as saying the topic was on his radar. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann said the same thing, specifically including it in his plans for the 2026 legislative session.
Given Mississippi’s overall poor health, especially among lower-income people who receive SNAP benefits, which are commonly known as food stamps, the idea is a good one.
In a nation where food is plentiful, providing public-funded nutrition assistance to those who need it, especially children, is the right and moral thing to do. However, the key word is “nutrition,” and it makes no sense to allow products that don’t fit that description in the program.
We all love our soft drinks, candy bars and chips, but it’s impossible to make the case that those are the most nutritious things for anyone. They are snacks and treats, not proper staples of a diet, and that’s why 12 states have removed them from the SNAP program.
One concern that comes to mind is what to do about SNAP recipients who live in so-called food deserts, meaning a distance from a grocery store or other retailer that provides healthy food. It doesn’t help if people can’t get to a store with decent food supplies.
But this may present an opportunity: The Tribune interviewed a Tunica convenience store worker, who estimated SNAP purchases made up 10% of store sales. If the state removes junk food from SNAP purchases, maybe these stores could add a few more canned vegetables or other goods to their shelves and help their customers.
There may be some resistance to SNAP restrictions, though most likely not enough to stop the Republican majority from passing a bill.
State Auditor Shad White provided further incentive by releasing a report on Monday that estimated how much Mississippi SNAP money is spent on junk food, and how restrictions could help the state.
Using the national figure of 23% of SNAP spending on sugared drinks, desserts, salty snacks and candy, White’s report said, “In Mississippi, that means taxpayers spend $190 million each year providing junk food to people through a ‘nutrition assistance’ program.”
White, like the governor and Hosemann, is in favor of SNAP junk food restrictions. The auditor noted the Department of Human Services already has authority to ask the federal government for this change, but it might help if the Legislature required the agency to do it.
The report also estimated that the state could save up to $22 million in its Medicaid program by reducing the rate of diet-related chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and cancer.
At first, that prediction sounds overstated. After all, if SNAP recipients really, really want their soft drinks and chips, they’re going to figure out a way to get them, even if they have to spend their own money.
That said, White’s report did not assume a giant shift in health trends if the state makes the SNAP change. Even though an estimated 78% of Mississippi SNAP recipients are on Medicaid, the report arrived at its $22 million savings estimate by calculating only a 1% decrease in the cost of treating seven chronic illnesses.
Even without any potential government savings, removing junk food from the SNAP program is the right idea. Taxpayer money should not be used to make our state’s health worse.
