Indiana SNAP Restrictions on Soda & Candy

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Grocers say new SNAP restrictions banning soda and candy could lead franchises to stop doing business in Indiana and buyers to cross state lines for the prohibited items.

The changes are set to be imposed in Indiana at the start of next year.

“I think the intent is to try to get rid of the food stamp cost. They’re trying to cut the budget,” President of the Indiana Grocery and Convenience Store Association Joe Lackey said.

Lackey says he understands and agrees with needed to cut costs, but believes adding these restrictions is not the way to go about it.

“This is not the way to do it by piecemealing it and creating unfair competitive situations,” he said.

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In May, the Department of Agriculture approved Gov. Mike Braun’s request to remove soda and candy from SNAP benefits.

Braun’s goal is to stop the more than 600,000 low income Hoosiers on SNAP from buying junk food. Lackey says the move will only cause stress for SNAP retailers near the state’s border.

Benefits can be used across the country, so Indiana can’t restrict what enrollees buy outside of the state.

“If you want to do this, the way to do it is to go do it nationally,” Lackey said. “It’s a federal program. It’s federal money. The feds are the ones paying for it. So, go through USDA, and USDA just announces it nationwide that this is what we’re going to do.”

Lackey says it was only after the administration made the announcement that they asked for input from industry leaders.

He says many of his fellow experts have similar concerns.

“Unfortunately, most of the recipients are not going to know about this,” Lackey said. “We know this from past history. They’re not going to know about this until they come in the store, and then our employees, in our grocery and convenience stores are going to have to try to explain it to them, and they’re not going to be happy about it.”

Another concern leaders carry is centered on how Indiana code defines candy and soda.

The current definition of candy says it does not include anything with flour. The definition of soda does not include drinks with over 50% veggie or fruit juice.

Lackey says this means the move would ban bottled teas and granola bars, but not KitKats or Twix. He worries clerks would have to explain these nuances to buyers.

“I know some situations where some of our our associates and our storage are going to be abused,” he said. “It’s not fair to them.”