Healthy SNAP Act of 2025

HR 479, the Healthy SNAP Act of 2025, revises which foods are eligible for purchase using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. It prohibits SNAP benefits from being used for alcoholic beverages, tobacco, soft drinks, candy, ice cream, and prepared desserts like cakes or pies. The bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish regulations within 180 days designating specific foods that contain nutrients lacking in U.S. diets, promote health based on nutrition science, and align with cultural eating patterns, while limiting fat, sugar, and salt. The Secretary must also review and update these designations at least every five years to reflect current science, and states may substitute culturally appropriate foods if nutritionally equivalent. This directly affects SNAP recipients and the program's food eligibility rules.