Iowans who use Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits won't be able to use them for some type of foods starting next year. This comes following a waiver that was approved by the United States Department of Agriculture. It does not go into effect until Jan. 1, 2026. According to Gov. Reynolds' office, the waiver aligns SNAP allowable purchases with the list of foods that are exempt from Iowa's sales tax: items like fruits, vegetables, bread and flour products, bottled water, meat, and milk to name a few. Items are subject to Iowa's sales tax include candy that does not contain flour and carbonated beverages.The list of what foods are and aren't exempt can be found here. State leaders say this will help promote healthier lives. "Soaring obesity rates have brought our nation and state to a crossroads," Governor Kim Reynolds said in a statement when the waiver approval announcement was made. "To promote healthy eating and protect future generations from disease -- and to ensure SNAP fulfills its core function -- we need a change. Thank you to Secretary Rollins and her team for helping make that change happen.""Our adult and childhood disease and obesity rates in the state are going in the wrong direction. Limiting food benefits to purchase only the foods we know are healthier is a step in the right direction for Iowans," Iowa Health and Human Services Director Kelly Garcia said in a statement when the waiver approval announcement was made. "We are working closely with our partners at FNS and our retailers in the state to make sure we are thoughtful in our approach and are doing everything in our power to guide our children and families in our system to healthier choices."However, organizations and groups fighting food insecurity have a few concerns. "We want to be exploring policies that will make healthy foods more accessible for folks on SNAP and that will allow them to cook with more whole ingredients, but I don't think this waiver does that," said Luke Elzinga, the board chair with the Iowa Hunger Coalition. Elzinga worries the waiver could increase the amount of stigma for SNAP Recipients. He says people may not necessarily know just by looking at a product's ingredients what benefits it won't cover."The last thing we want is for a family in the checkout lane -- they can't purchase something and feel that level of stigma and shame; people looking at them," said Elzinga. Elzinga says with this waiver, what he'd like to see the state do next is find a way to educate people who use SNAP on which food and beverages are subject to the sales tax in Iowa. "It's not always straightforward, you know. Yes, this does ban candy and soda, but also it bans granola bars unless they have flour in them," said Elzinga. "We really hope that the state is going to put some resources forth towards educating the public about these changes." What Elzinga says would be helpful in fighting food insecurity is for more policies to be put in place that make SNAP more accessible. One program he mentioned was the Double Up Food Bucks program. According to the program's website, it allows SNAP users to double their dollars -- up to $15 a day -- on purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables at participating grocery stores, Co-ops, farmers markets, and more. Part of a bill that didn't make it out of the statehouse this legislative session would have set aside $1 million in state funding for the program. "Governor Reynolds actually brought up and praised the Double Up Food Bucks program in her letter requesting this waiver," said Elzinga. "They do receive a federal grant and private funding, but with state funding, we could be maximizing the reach of that program even more."
Iowans who use Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits won't be able to use them for some type of foods starting next year.
This comes following a waiver that was approved by the United States Department of Agriculture. It does not go into effect until Jan. 1, 2026.
According to Gov. Reynolds' office, the waiver aligns SNAP allowable purchases with the list of foods that are exempt from Iowa's sales tax: items like fruits, vegetables, bread and flour products, bottled water, meat, and milk to name a few. Items are subject to Iowa's sales tax include candy that does not contain flour and carbonated beverages.
The list of what foods are and aren't exempt can be found here.
State leaders say this will help promote healthier lives.
"Soaring obesity rates have brought our nation and state to a crossroads," Governor Kim Reynolds said in a statement when the waiver approval announcement was made. "To promote healthy eating and protect future generations from disease -- and to ensure SNAP fulfills its core function -- we need a change. Thank you to Secretary Rollins and her team for helping make that change happen."
"Our adult and childhood disease and obesity rates in the state are going in the wrong direction. Limiting food benefits to purchase only the foods we know are healthier is a step in the right direction for Iowans," Iowa Health and Human Services Director Kelly Garcia said in a statement when the waiver approval announcement was made. "We are working closely with our partners at FNS and our retailers in the state to make sure we are thoughtful in our approach and are doing everything in our power to guide our children and families in our system to healthier choices."
However, organizations and groups fighting food insecurity have a few concerns.
"We want to be exploring policies that will make healthy foods more accessible for folks on SNAP and that will allow them to cook with more whole ingredients, but I don't think this waiver does that," said Luke Elzinga, the board chair with the Iowa Hunger Coalition.
Elzinga worries the waiver could increase the amount of stigma for SNAP Recipients. He says people may not necessarily know just by looking at a product's ingredients what benefits it won't cover.
"The last thing we want is for a family in the checkout lane -- they can't purchase something and feel that level of stigma and shame; people looking at them," said Elzinga.
Elzinga says with this waiver, what he'd like to see the state do next is find a way to educate people who use SNAP on which food and beverages are subject to the sales tax in Iowa.
"It's not always straightforward, you know. Yes, this does ban candy and soda, but also it bans granola bars unless they have flour in them," said Elzinga. "We really hope that the state is going to put some resources forth towards educating the public about these changes."
What Elzinga says would be helpful in fighting food insecurity is for more policies to be put in place that make SNAP more accessible. One program he mentioned was the Double Up Food Bucks program. According to the program's website, it allows SNAP users to double their dollars -- up to $15 a day -- on purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables at participating grocery stores, Co-ops, farmers markets, and more.
Part of a bill that didn't make it out of the statehouse this legislative session would have set aside $1 million in state funding for the program.
"Governor Reynolds actually brought up and praised the Double Up Food Bucks program in her letter requesting this waiver," said Elzinga. "They do receive a federal grant and private funding, but with state funding, we could be maximizing the reach of that program even more."