USDA says undercover investigators to ensure retailers follow new SNAP restrictions

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that undercover investigators will be sent to ensure that retailers follow new SNAP restrictions.

The agency said on Tuesday that after the restrictions take effect, investigators “will incorporate attempts to purchase restricted items according to the state’s SNAP Food Restriction policy, beginning 90 days after the implementation date.”

A warning letter advising corrective action will be sent to retailers that are not in compliance with the restrictions. If, after receiving the letter, retailers are found to be out of compliance again, then officials will revoke their authorization to accept SNAP.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins approved requests from 18 states last year to diverge from normal SNAP operations and impose various restrictions on which items participants can buy.

Many states have restricted soda and other soft drinks, and some have barred SNAP funds from being used for energy drinks, candy, and prepared desserts.

About 42 million Americans participate in SNAP, also known as food stamps.

The waivers “further that purpose, as part of broader state and federal government efforts to fight the obesity epidemic and Make America Healthy Again,” Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, Patrick Penn, said in the announcement.

The Food Industry Association, whose members include retailers, said in a statement on Wednesday that it appreciated the department clarifying the 90-day grace period before enforcing the new restrictions.

“While receiving this guidance and assurance of a 90-day grace period is critical, our members have additional questions and need assurance that ‘involuntary withdrawal’ following a second offense mentioned in the guidance will be limited to retailers knowingly and intentionally not following the restriction, not an accidental error on one of 21,000 or more products that must be coded as restricted in each state,” Chief Public Policy Officer Jennifer Hatcher said.