NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — On Friday, Governor Bill Lee announced plans to seek federal waivers in order to change Tennessee’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
The press release from the Governor’s Office noted that “under the leadership of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy and Secretary of Agriculture,” Tennessee joins several other states implementing SNAP changes.
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The proposed waivers would do the following:
- Enable SNAP recipients to prepare hot prepared chicken, including non-fried, non-breaded items like grilled chicken tenders and rotisserie chickens.
- Exclude any items listing sugar, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup “or similar caloric alternative as the primary (first) ingredient.”
- Exclude beverages where carbonated water and sugar, high-fructose corn syrup “or a similar caloric alternative are the first two ingredients.”
The Governor’s Office said that the changes were meant to ensure that SNAP “fulfills its intended purpose of promoting healthier eating habits.”
“Tennessee is leading the nation in creating innovative solutions to enhance quality of life, and I’m proud to continue our legacy of responsible fiscal stewardship while also delivering nutritious food choices for hard-working families,” Lee said. “I’m grateful to the Trump Administration for its leadership to Make America Healthy Again, and thank our grocery retailers, convenience stores, food producers, and beverage manufacturers for working to ensure that healthier choices reach every community across our state.”…