Kansas is waiting for approval to ban candy and soft drinks from being bought with food assistance dollars. This request is part of a broader effort to fight obesity, particularly among low-income families using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
At a recent Senate meeting, some lawmakers were eager to see this ban approved. However, Carla Whiteside-Hicks, who oversees economic services for the Kansas Department for Children and Families, highlighted some challenges. She mentioned that Kansas has a more complicated application process than other states, mainly due to unclear definitions of “soft drinks” and “candy” in the new law.
Several states, including Florida and Indiana, are set to implement similar bans starting January 1. While some states restrict sodas or candies, others combine these products, creating a patchwork of regulations.
Sen. Renee Erickson, who leads the committee, acknowledged that other states’ bans aren’t necessarily simpler but stressed that precise definitions are crucial. “It sounds easy to say ‘pop and candy,’ but those definitions really matter,” she explained.
Initially, Kansas submitted its request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in April. This proposal, initially a bill, faced a veto from Governor Laura Kelly, who argued it could hurt families and businesses. Instead of fully overturning the veto, lawmakers added the ban into the state budget, tying it to $1.8 million for a summer food program. This means that the department can only access those funds after completing the request for restrictions.
During the meeting, Sen. Doug Shane questioned why the complex process is hindering Kansas’ request and if there’s any national guidance to support it. Whiteside-Hicks clarified that the request must align with Kansas law, limiting the options available.
Since the request was made, Whiteside-Hicks gathered a team to tackle the implementation and evaluate its effectiveness. However, she noted a lack of skills within her team to create the necessary evaluation plan, prompting them to seek outside help.
Currently, nearly 187,000 Kansans receive food assistance benefits, averaging around $452 per household each month, according to USDA data from 2023. The cost of developing the new restrictions remains unknown, as the agency typically conducts an analysis before submitting requests, which didn’t occur this time.
If approved, the restrictions could take 18 months to implement. This delay raises questions about the effectiveness of such policies and whether they truly address obesity or just penalize low-income families.
