SNAP

Grocery stores accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in 12 states will soon have to accommodate new exclusions to the program. Industry advocates say the changes will be expensive, especially for smaller retailers.

At least 12 states have received federal approval to restrict recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, from using their benefits to purchase certain foods such as soda and candy.

According to the report, an estimated 779,000 people are food insecure in Missouri.

The massive legislation extends tax cuts and increases safety nets for farmers who grow commodities, like corn, wheat and rice. But deep cuts to federal food assistance spending could hurt specialty growers who benefit from programs like Double Up Food Bucks.

The program partners with schools and communities to teach people of all ages about proper nutrition, physical activity and how to effectively use money from federal welfare programs such as SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

After pandemic era food assistance programs ended in 2021, rates of food insecurity started rising.

According to the Missouri Climate Center, there have been more than 100 reported tornados in Missouri this year, leaving many Missourians in need of help. But the state doesn’t appear to be taking full advantage of a program that could provide food assistance after such natural disasters.

A U.S. House of Representatives budget resolution that’s currently being considered proposes more than a trillion dollars in funding cuts for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - formerly known as food stamps. But a study released this week by the Commonwealth Fund shows that if passed, these cuts could trigger major job losses in Missouri and nationwide.

No action was taken on a bill that would prevent low-income Missourians from using food stamps to buy soda and candy.

As more Missourians have taken on gig work to make ends meet, it’s become harder for the state to determine people’s eligibility for programs such as SNAP, TANF and Medicaid.