Reps. Meng, Fitzpatrick, Garbarino, Spanberger, And Senator Bennet Renew Bipartisan Push For Snap To Allow Hot Food Purchases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Reps. Grace Meng (D-NY), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), and Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) called for their legislation to be included in the upcoming Farm Bill that would allow the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to cover hot food.

In a letter to the Chair and Ranking Members of House and Senate Agriculture Committees, the lawmakers urged the inclusion of their bipartisan, bicameral Hot Foods Act, which would remove an outdated prohibition that prevents families from using SNAP benefits to purchase hot foods such as prepared rotisserie chickens, hot sandwiches, and soups.

42 million Americans benefit from SNAP, a critical federal poverty reduction program. The Farm Bill is taken up by Congress every five years, making this the Hot Foods Act’s best opportunity until 2028 to ensure SNAP recipients can purchase hot, ready-to-eat meals.  

“Since its enactment 60 years ago, SNAP has prohibited the purchase of hot foods,” said the lawmakers in their letter. “While this restriction may have made sense in the 1970s, when most families were cooking their meals at home, it is no longer an accurate reflection of American families’ dietary or lifestyle needs. During natural disasters, USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service grants waivers to affected counties so that SNAP participants can use their benefits to purchase hot foods when they are unable to prepare food at home. Such waivers demonstrate that the restriction on hot foods is an unnecessary red tape of business owners, program administrators, and American families.”

The lawmakers introduced the Hot Foods Act last May. Their correspondence is endorsed by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), GRACE, and National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS).

A copy of the letter can be viewed here.