DES MOINES, Iowa — Governor Kim Reynolds continues to make moves to try to make Iowa’s food programs healthier. This time she submitted a request to limit certain foods under SNAP, the food benefit program for low-income families.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is a federal program though the USDA.

Reynolds has requested a waiver to make some items ineligible to obtain. 

SNAP participants would not be able to buy food products subject to state sales tax. This would include things like candy, breath mints, dried fruit leathers, kettle corn, certain granola bars, soft drinks, certain fruit punches, and more. If it goes through, it would go into effect January 1.

Some local groups do not agree with this, like the Iowa Hunger Coalition.

“I don’t think this is really the right way to get low income Iowans eating healthier. We need to be looking at solutions that will increase the affordability and accessibility of fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods for low income Iowans,” said Luke Elzinga, chair of IHC and Policy & Advocacy Manager at DMARC. “This just really sends the message that the state of Iowa doesn’t trust low-income families to make the best food choices for their family. We don’t think this ban will be effective, and we’d really like to see some solutions and evidence-based proven interventions like Double Up Food Bucks. The governor actually even mentioned that in her waiver request. So again, we think there are proven solutions to increase healthy eating, but this is not one.”

In Reynolds’ letter to U.S Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to support her waiver request, Reynolds said, “We can and must do better for Americans and Iowans by encouraging healthy choices that will help people thrive, not simply providing cash benefits with no focus on holistic well-being.”

Reynolds went on to say that “Iowa has proven our commitment to innovation and change – all with a focus on improved health and well-being for our families, communities, and farmers.”

Reynolds also just received a USDA waiver to opt out of the federal government’s summer feeding program and launch its own program “Healthy Kids Iowa” to serve low income kids during the summer months. In this program eligible families will have access to $40 of food per month per child, focusing on nutritionally balanced food. 

That program has been approved, but the SNAP waiver has not yet. 

“I think there’s been a lot of work over the years to reduce stigma around food insecurity in general, around participation in SNAP. This is a step in the wrong direction,” Elzinga said. “This will create more stigma. I think when people are going to a grocery store and maybe purchasing something that is more processed, more calorie dense, but might be cheaper with their SNAP benefits, they are making a rational decision for their household. Here’s what I can afford. Here’s what I have time to cook. Here’s something my kids are going to eat.”

That doesn’t mean Elzinga disagrees with the governor about wanting to provide healthy options. 

“I think we agree in this goal of wanting to increase healthy eating, let’s invest in solutions that get to that affordability piece,” he said.

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