The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest federal nutrition assistance program in the United States. Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), SNAP provides monthly benefits to eligible low-income individuals and families to help them purchase food. As of 2024, 41.7 million people nationwide participated in the program.
SNAP benefits are used to purchase most food items with restrictions including alcohol, tobacco, and hot prepared foods. This structure has allowed recipients to choose foods that meet their household needs and dietary requirements.
Evolving SNAP Policy
The SNAP policy framework continues to evolve. The USDA has approved 22 state waivers testing SNAP restrictions on purchases, including candy, sugary beverages, and prepared desserts. States continue either introducing SNAP waiver legislation, submitting a SNAP waiver request to the USDA, or both. Some state laws require legislation to be enacted prior to submitting a SNAP waiver request.
These waivers create variation across states in what SNAP recipients can purchase. As more states explore similar restrictions, the result could be a patchwork of rules that differ by jurisdiction. A food item might be considered a staple in one context and a snack or a dessert in another. Variations in how states define restricted categories introduce uncertainty into product classification and treatment at retail.
Food categories are not always clearly defined, particularly within bakery aisles. Products can vary widely in ingredients and consumer perception. For example, a prepared dessert has been defined as an “ultra-processed prepared dessert," meaning a “processed, shelf-stable, ready-to-eat, pre-packaged sweet food intended for immediate consumption without any further preparation.”
Considerations for Commercial Bakers
State-specific waivers also introduce uncertainty for food manufacturers, including commercial bakers, operating across multiple markets. As USDA tests these new limits on purchasing certain products, it may influence what retailers choose to stock in areas with high SNAP participation. Stability and predictability allow food manufacturers to plan with greater certainty.
How ABA is Tackling the Issue
As the SNAP policy landscape continues to evolve, the American Bakers Association (ABA) is advocating for a consistent, federal approach to SNAP that preserves consumer choice, protects access to whole and enriched grain foods, and avoids fragmented state-by-state compliance structures. ABA supports policies that emphasize nutrition education and positive incentives while safeguarding the efficiency and integrity of a program that plays a significant role in the nation’s food system.
ABA is committed to ongoing dialogue with policymakers to help ensure that baked goods remain part of a healthy, balanced diet within SNAP. The association supports offering consumers a broad range of nutritious, high-quality products that meet rigorous standards for safety and transparency.
How ABA Members Can Get Involved
Join ABA’s State Affairs Group to work on enacting legislation at the state level that advances the interests of the commercial baking industry. For more information, contact ABA Vice President of Government Relations Rasma Zvaners at [email protected]
A SNAP tracker can be found on the National Grocers Association’s website.
