Healthy SNAP Act of 2023

To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to require the Secretary to designate food and food products to be made available under the supplemental nutrition assistance program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Healthy SNAP Act of 2023 2. Food under supplemental nutrition assistance program (a) Definition of food Section 3(k)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2012(k)(1) (1) by striking except alcoholic beverages, tobacco designated by the Secretary under section 4(d), except any alcoholic beverages, tobacco, soft drinks, candy, ice cream, prepared desserts such as cakes, pies, cookies, or similar products (2) by striking clauses paragraphs (b) Designated food Section 4 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2013 (d) Designated food (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall designate by regulation the foods and food products that shall be included in the definition of the term food (2) Considerations In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— (A) take into consideration food and food products that— (i) based on nutrition research, contain nutrients lacking in the diets of people in the United States; and (ii) promote the health of the population served by the supplemental nutrition assistance program, based on relevant nutrition science, public health concerns, and cultural eating patterns; and (B) to the maximum extent practicable, ensure that the fat, sugar, and salt content of the food and food products is appropriate. (3) Review of available foods As frequently as determined by the Secretary to be necessary to reflect the most recent scientific knowledge, but not less frequently than once every 5 years, the Secretary shall— (A) conduct a scientific review of the food and food products designated under paragraph (1); and (B) amend those foods and food products, as necessary, to reflect nutrition science, public health concerns, and cultural eating patterns. (4) Prepared meals Prepared meals described in section 3(k) shall have nutritional values consistent with regulations developed by the Secretary under this subsection. (5) Cultural Cuisines To allow for different cultural eating patterns, State agencies may, with the approval of the Secretary, substitute different food for food designated under paragraph (1) subject to the condition that the different food is nutritionally equivalent to the substituted food. .

Summary: Healthy SNAP Act of 2023This bill amends the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to redefine the foods eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits.SNAP benefits may not be used for soft drinks, candy, ice cream, or prepared desserts, such as cakes, pies, cookies, or similar products.Further, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) must designate by regulation foods and food products to include in the SNAP definition of the term food. USDA must consider food and products that (1) based on nutrition research, contain nutrients lacking in the diets of people in the United States; and (2) promote the health of the population served by SNAP, based on relevant nutrition science, public health concerns, and cultural eating patterns. USDA must also, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure that the fat, sugar, and salt content of the food and food products are appropriate. At least every five years, USDA must review and amend the list.Prepared meals purchased with SNAP benefits must have nutritional values consistent with standards developed by USDA for the list of food and food products.&nbsp;A state agency may substitute different foods for food USDA designated under this bill, with USDA approval, so long as the foods are nutritionally equivalent; this is permitted to allow for different cultural eating patterns.