The fight over what belongs in a grocery cart has evolved from a simmering policy debate into one of the most consequential shifts in America’s nutrition assistance system. What began as scattered proposals has now become a sweeping movement: more than a dozen states have enacted restrictions on soda, candy, and other junk foods purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, better known as SNAP.
Supporters call it a long overdue correction. Critics warn that the government is crossing a line. Families who rely on the program are navigating the changes in real time.
