Reynolds’ waiver to restrict SNAP eligible foods approved by USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved Gov. Kim Reynolds’ waiver to exclude foods like candy and soft drinks from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Iowa. 

Anti-hunger advocates were against the waiver and argue it would not help low-income Iowans gain better access to nutritious foods. 

Reynolds, who appeared on “Iowa Press” Friday, said the demonstration waiver is a “really good first step” to return SNAP to its original intent of providing nutritious food to low-income families. 

“We are an unhealthy population,” Reynolds said. “We think this really lines up with the intent of what SNAP was designed for in the beginning, and they can use those dollars to purchase healthy foods and help supplement their family income.” 

The waiver, which Reynolds submitted in March, excludes any food item eligible for sales tax, as determined by the Iowa Department of Revenue. This includes soft drinks, candy, and sweetened snacks, including granola bars and fruit leathers. 

The waiver would take effect Jan. 1, 2026, and last for two years. The federal Food and Nutrition Service will work with the state to implement the new definition of eligible food items and then evaluate the demonstration project and its impact on SNAP participants. 

Nicole McAlexander, vice chair of Iowa Hunger Coalition and executive director of Southeast Linn Community Center, said the waiver will increase stigma and “perpetuate misconceptions” around SNAP participants.

“Instead of investing in evidence-based solutions to improve healthy eating, the state of Iowa is choosing to experiment on low-income Iowans’ grocery carts,” McAlexander said.

Members of the coalition advocated for increased funding to the Double Up Food Bucks program, which allows SNAP recipients to double their spending on produce, but proposed bills did not advance in Iowa’s legislative session.

Luke Elzinga, board chair of the Iowa Hunger Coalition, said the waiver will “do nothing” to lower the cost of nutritious food for Iowans. Elzinga also questioned how the action fit with Reynolds’ approved waiver for Iowa’s summer feeding program, Healthy Kids Iowa.

“If Gov. Reynolds’ opposition to participating in Summer EBT was the lack of nutritional focus,” Elzinga said. “Why didn’t she elect to submit a similar restriction waiver for Summer EBT and participate in the program?”

Iowa Hunger Coalition said Reynolds’ summer program will assist just 65,000 kids, as opposed to the federal program which would have supported nearly 245,000 Iowa school-aged students in low-income families. 

Reynolds, when asked about the figure on “Iowa Press,” said her program allots $40 per eligible student, but families will be able to get more food with their dollars since the program distributes through food banks, versus individual electronic benefit transfer cards. 

“And, again, it restricts it to nutritious food,” Reynolds said. “We’re driving healthy outcomes, healthy behaviors in the state so that we can help families provide the kids nutritious food during the summer.” 

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins signed similar SNAP-related waivers in Nebraska and Indiana this week. She congratulated the states for stepping up and taking action following her requests to “innovate” at the state level. 

“President Trump has given our nation a once in a generation opportunity to change the health trajectory for our entire country,” Rollins said. “I look forward to signing even more waivers in the days ahead as we continue to restore the health of America.” 

The waivers follow guidance from the Trump administration to reduce disease trends, including prediabetes trends in children, which were highlighted in the recent Make America Healthy Again report.