A federal judge has blocked restrictions on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that limited what items recipients could purchase in five states, including Iowa. The ban prohibited SNAP recipients from using their benefits to buy sugary items such as soda, gum, and candy.
Background
A lawsuit against the Trump administration was filed earlier this year, arguing that the waivers created major hurdles for families and retailers. The lawsuit also claimed the U.S. Department of Agriculture changed the legal definition of ‘food’ without public notice.
The groups that brought the lawsuit released a statement saying, ‘This decision makes clear that the USDA cannot bypass the legal guardrails that establish how SNAP must operate across the country.’ Iowa Health and Human Services and the USDA were contacted for comment but have not responded.
Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.
