Healthy SNAP Act of 2023

The Healthy SNAP Act of 2023 changes what foods SNAP recipients can buy by updating the program's definition of eligible "food." It explicitly excludes soft drinks, candy, ice cream, and prepared desserts like cakes or cookies, while requiring the USDA Secretary to designate specific nutrient-rich foods that address dietary gaps and promote health. The bill mandates the Secretary to review and update these designated foods every five years based on nutrition science and public health needs, and allows states to substitute culturally appropriate, nutritionally equivalent foods with approval. This directly affects the 40 million SNAP participants nationwide by altering their purchasing options under the program.