Soon, I intend to introduce legislation directing the Department of Human Services to seek a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to exclude junk foods that are calorie-dense and nutrient-poor from purchase under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
 
Nationwide, nearly ten percent of food stamp dollars are spent on sugary drinks each year, with another $600 million spent on candy and prepared desserts.
 
Research has shown that high sugar, and ultra-processed diets contribute to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, inflammation, and other chronic, preventable conditions that disproportionately impact low-income communities. In children, these products are linked to developmental problems, attention deficits, and poor academic and behavioral performance.
 
These harms impose growing costs on the Commonwealth, not just in reduced quality of life, but also in the rising burden on taxpayer-funded healthcare programs, which now spend over a billion dollars on costly weight loss medications.
 
SNAP already excludes non-nutritive items such as alcohol, tobacco, hot prepared foods, and non-food items. This reform applies the same principle, placing targeted limits on a narrow category of unhealthy products that demonstrably undermine public health. It also aligns Pennsylvania with other states pursuing similar waivers, and reflects longstanding restrictions in programs like WIC.
 
It’s hard to justify why children can’t drink whole milk at school, yet are allowed to buy pop and candy with taxpayer-funded food assistance. Sweet and salty treats may have their place, but SNAP should not subsidize a steady diet that contributes to the very health problems we are working to reverse.
 
I invite you to join me in sponsoring this important legislation.