Congress restricts what poor Americans can buy with food stamps
H.R. 813 — Funding is Zero for Zero Nutrition Options (FIZZ-NO) Act of 2025 · Filed by Keith Self (R-TX) · 3 cosponsors · Introduced Jan 28, 2025 · Referred to committee
Your members of Congress
Enter a ZIP to see where your representative and both senators stood on this bill.
Looked up on this device — your ZIP is never stored on our servers.
What it does
This bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to prohibit SNAP (food stamp) recipients from using their benefits to purchase soda, defined as carbonated beverages with more than 1 gram of added sugar, artificial sweetener, or flavoring per serving. The ban takes effect 180 days after enactment.
Why we flagged it
The bill's operative mechanism is a straightforward prohibition on a category of food purchases within an existing benefit program. It is a dietary/nutritional policy lever, not a financial carve-out or procedural maneuver.
What the text implies
- SNAP recipients may face enforcement burden: retailers must verify soda purchases at point-of-sale, creating friction and potential embarrassment for low-income shoppers.
- Definition of 'soda' (>1g added sugar/sweetener per serving) may capture diet sodas and some flavored waters, expanding the restriction beyond traditional sugary soft drinks.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who it affects
The bill restricts SNAP recipients' autonomy and purchasing power, which is a cost to citizens relying on the program. However, if the intent is to improve nutrition outcomes among low-income households, there is a potential public-health benefit — though that benefit is speculative and depends on whether recipients substitute with healthier options or simply reduce overall consumption.