AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — This month kicked off a major change for Texas recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. They will no longer be allowed to purchase items like sugary drinks and candy.
As we previously reported, this change follows a letter sent by Governor Greg Abbott sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture requesting a waiver to stop SNAP benefits from covering those items.
Amarillo VA Health Care System hosts first mobile food pantry
“Those changes include restrictions on what folks can and cannot buy with their SNAP benefits at the grocery store. Major changes will be like sugary drinks, some candy, some granola, some products with nuts in them, especially if there’s extra sugar in them,” said Haley Stoddard, United Way of Amarillo and Canyon Senior Director of community impact. “So, really changing how families shop on an already very restricted and very tight food budget.”
Stoddard added that with the new changes in place, grocery stores must highlight to families what products are okay to purchase with SNAP…