Montanans May No Longer Use SNAP For Candy, Soda

Gov. Greg Gianforte announced on Tuesday, May 19 that the U.S. Department of Agriculture had approved his request to prohibit people from purchasing soft drinks, junk food and candy with SNAP, the food assistance program funded by the federal government.

The state’s March waiver requesting the restrictions, circulated by Gianforte’s office Tuesday and signed by Department of Public Health and Human Services director Charlie Brereton, outlines the state’s goal to assess the impact of limiting “nutrient-poor food items on SNAP households in Montana, where diet-related chronic conditions are a gr...