Report: Mississippi could save millions by removing junk food from SNAP

As Gov. Tate Reeves mulls the prospect of seeking a waiver from the federal government to prohibit Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, recipients in Mississippi from purchasing junk food from grocery stores, State Auditor Shad White says a prospective ban would save taxpayers a lot of money.

The auditor’s report finds that the Magnolia State could save millions of dollars annually if food stamp recipients were prohibited from buying sugary beverages, sodas, candy, snack cakes, and other ultra-processed snacks with taxpayer-subsidized funds.

“President Trump is focused on ‘Making America Healthy Again,’ so we need to Make Mississippi Healthy Again,” White said. “That means a renewed commitment to exercise and teaching our children healthy habits, but it also means using a