Congress·In Committee·H.R. 7580

Rep. Luna Introduces Nutrition First Act to Ban Junk Food Purchases With SNAP Benefits

Nutrition First Act of 2026

29 days ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

This bill would change the rules for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps. It aims to stop people from using these government benefits to buy foods that are considered unhealthy or 'nutritionally deficient.'
If passed, shoppers could no longer use SNAP to buy soda, energy drinks, or most candies. It also bans prepared desserts like cookies, cakes, doughnuts, and muffins that are high in sugar, salt, or saturated fat.
Some drinks would still be allowed, including milk, milk substitutes, and juices that are at least 50% real fruit or vegetable juice. Items that require cooking or preparation before eating would also generally remain eligible for purchase.
The goal of the policy is to ensure tax dollars are spent on nutritious food rather than sugary snacks. Supporters argue this will improve public health, while critics often worry it makes grocery shopping more complicated and restrictive for low-income families.
The new rules would go into effect 180 days after the bill is signed into law. The Department of Agriculture would be responsible for setting the exact nutritional standards for which specific brands and products are allowed.

AgricultureHealthcare

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Who is affectedScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Feb 13, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Feb 13, 2026

Introduced in House

Related News

2 articles

Houston Chronicle·9 days ago

Texas SNAP recipients face new restrictions on soda and candy starting April 1

SNAP recipients in Texas won't be able to buy sweetened soft drinks and candies using their benefits beginning April 1. The changes, approved last year, are part of a state effort to promote healthier food options and ensure the program helps families access nutritional food.

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Altoona Mirror·12 days ago

States struggle to implement SNAP junk food ban

The USDA has approved 18 waivers from states barring the use of SNAP benefits for junk food or soda, but what's banned varies by state. Officials warn that the bans can be confusing and difficult to implement, with contention over what exactly constitutes 'junk food.'

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Nutrition First Act of 2026

Bill NumberHR 7580

Congress119th Congress

ChamberHouse of Representatives

Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Sponsor

Data Sources

Congress.gov

Official legislative information

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.