Pennsylvania bill would exclude 'junk foods' from SNAP benefits

(WHTM) — A new bill proposes changing the types of foods that are covered under Pennsylvania's SNAP program.

A Senate bill proposed by Sen. Michele Brooks (R-50) and Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-33) would direct the Department of Human Services to seek a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to exclude calorie-dense and nutrient-poor "junk foods" from purchase under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

In a co-sponsorship memo, Sen. Brooks asserts that in the United States, nearly ten percent of food stamp dollars are spent on sugary drinks each year, with another $600 million spent on candy and prepared desserts.

The memo says high-sugar, ultra-processed diets contribute to numerous preventable health issues and are growing costs on Pennsylvania taxpayer-funded heal