How SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Reform and Additive Bans Are Reshaping Food Policy

At the Food Tank convening with the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University, the second panel focused on one clear trend: states are moving faster than the federal government to address ultraprocessed foods—and in 2025, that momentum is accelerating.

With more than 30 state bills introduced and at least 10 passed, panelists explored how state-level action is filling long-standing regulatory gaps around food additives, SNAP nutrition standards, and consumer protection.

West Virginia: From Talk to Action

Arvin Singh, Secretary of Health for West Virginia, highlighted one of the most comprehensive state efforts to date.

Earlier this year, West Virginia passed—with over 80% legislative support—one of the nation’s strongest food dye and additive bans. The law removes petroleum-based food dyes as well as preservatives like BHA and BHT that provide no nutritional benefit.

The rollout was designed to be practical:

• Schools complied beginning August 2025

• Statewide retail compliance is required by January 1, 2028, allowing manufacturers time to reformulate

West Virginia has also taken bold steps within federal nutrition programs. The state received USDA approval to restrict soda purchases through SNAP, aligning the program with its intended purpose: supplemental nutrition, not ultraprocessed beverages. That waiver goes into effect in early 2026.

In addition, the state is redesigning its WIC food guide to prioritize nutritional safety for women and children.

A Historic Shift in SNAP Policy

Political scientist Robert Palberg framed 2025 as a turning point for SNAP.

Historically, USDA denied all state requests to restrict food purchases under SNAP—regardless of administration. This year, that changed. Twelve states received waivers allowing limits on soda and, in some cases, candy and prepared desserts.

While this represents a major shift, Palberg cautioned about risks:

• Definitions matter: Without clarity, restrictions could unintentionally stigmatize participants or misclassify foods

• Evaluation gaps: Waivers are temporary, yet few states have clearly articulated plans to measure health or purchasing outcomes

• Political tension: In some states, nutrition goals risk being overshadowed by efforts to shrink SNAP rather than improve diet quality

He also noted a key limitation: SNAP reaches only about 12% of Americans, meaning meaningful dietary change requires broader food system reform.

Panel moderators emphasized that USDA approvals do require evaluation—and that SNAP already navigates complex purchasing rules, suggesting implementation challenges are manageable. Some states are also expanding access to healthy prepared foods, signaling opportunities to modernize the program.

Why States Are Stepping In

Jennifer Pomeranz explained why state leadership has become essential.

For decades, FDA lacked a comprehensive framework—and sufficient resources—to reassess ingredients already in the food supply. As a result, substances linked to harm often remained legal for decades:

• Red Dye 3 banned from cosmetics in 1990, removed from food only recently

• Brominated vegetable oil took 53 years to ban

• Industrial trans fats took over 30 years, despite early warnings

In this regulatory vacuum, states have stepped in. About 30 states are now pursuing additive bans, school food reforms, and innovative labeling laws. Texas, in particular, has emerged as a leader in ingredient disclosure.

Pomeranz strongly cautioned against federal preemption. For over a century, food safety has been a shared federal–state responsibility, and removing state authority would be unprecedented—especially given that FDA still lacks the resources and authority to act alone.

A Nonpartisan Moment for Food Reform

The panel closed on a note of consensus: food, health, and agriculture are deeply interconnected—and all are fixable.

Across administrations, concern about diet-related disease has remained consistent. What’s new is alignment: states acting boldly, federal agencies beginning to modernize, and public awareness reaching a tipping point.

This is not a partisan issue. It’s a systems issue.

And for the first time in decades, the pieces are moving into place to address it.