SALT LAKE CITY — Just two months after Utah banned food stamp purchases for soda, a state lawmaker aims for more restrictions. Rep. Kristen Chevrier, R-Highland, has introduced a new bill, HB569, which seeks to stop Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from being used on “ultra-processed food.”
Ultra-processed foods are defined in her bill as items high in additives, saturated fat, sodium, or added sugars. Chevrier plans to refine this definition. “The goal is to reduce unhealthy foods in SNAP carts,” she stated, but acknowledges there’s still work to do.
Opposition has emerged from the nonprofit Utahns Against Hunger. Executive Director Gina Cornia argues that instead of restricting choices, people should have the freedom to make their own decisions about food for their families.
Chevrier previously sponsored a bill that banned soda purchases with SNAP benefits, which began earlier this year after receiving approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This earlier bill faced bipartisan criticism, including from Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, who described it as “nanny-statism.” He expressed similar concerns about the new bill, predicting he would likely oppose it as well.
“We’re managing taxpayer money and promoting good nutrition, but individuals still have the right to use their own money as they wish,” Chevrier explained regarding the implications of these restrictions.
The topic has garnered wider attention, including from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who framed the soda ban as part of a larger health initiative in Utah. Seventeen states, like Idaho and Colorado, also have restrictions in place for food stamp purchases.
Recent dietary guidelines recommend that Americans increase their protein intake while reducing sugar and avoiding highly processed foods.
HB569 is still in its early stages and awaits a committee hearing before the legislative session ends on March 6. Chevrier has other food-related bills in the pipeline, including one to limit certain food additives in schools and another addressing raw milk sales.
As states increasingly weigh these nutritional policies, the conversation around food, health, and personal choice continues to evolve.
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