Approximately 1.5 million Ohioans use SNAP to buy groceries. Some recipients, like Lis Regula, view the program as a “crucial gap-fill” to meet their families’ nutritional needs but worry that the new restrictions could infringe on personal liberty and increase stigma for low-income families. Regula questioned the fairness of the ban, stating, “It keeps a kid from being able to have soda at their birthday party. What really is the point of that?”
DeWine’s SNAP working group, a coalition of health and business leaders, recently released a report recommending the ban on using benefits for “pop or energy drinks,” defined as carbonated beverages high in sugar or those with sweeteners.
The push for the restriction is driven by health and fiscal concerns. House Finance Chair Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, argued against “subsidizing diabetes in children by buying pop with food stamps.” He maintained that when using “taxpayers’ money to buy your food, I think taxpayers have an ability to say, ‘We’re not going to buy junk food with it.'”
DeWine previously vetoed a similar provision in the state budget, stating the language was too broad. The working group’s new proposed definition restricts beverages that list “sugar, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, or similar caloric sweeteners as the primary ingredient or as the second ingredient if the first ingredient is carbonated water.” The group clarified that this definition is not meant to exclude necessary items and would include carve-outs for products like juices, Gatorade, and drinks essential for infants or those recovering from illness, such as Pedialyte.
Governor DeWine expressed his support in July, stating, “I support not using SNAP to purchase these beverages.”
The working group was tasked with developing language for a federal waiver request, which is necessary to allow Ohio to restrict SNAP purchases. If approved, Ohio would become the 13th state, joining others like Texas and Florida, to restrict soda pop purchases with food assistance. DeWine’s office is currently formalizing the waiver request, with a deadline in late October.
In a related matter, the working group also recommended seeking a waiver to expand SNAP benefits to cover hot rotisserie chicken, which is currently restricted, as consumers can only buy cold chicken products with SNAP.