***For Immediate Release***
April 7, 2025
Contact: Sierra Salgado Pirigyi
Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed
Office: (402) 438-8853 x116
sierrasp@upgrade.neappleseed.org
RELEASE: Nebraska DHHS applies for unnecessary SNAP waiver that stigmatizes low-income families
LINCOLN, NE – Today, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced that they will be submitting a waiver to the USDA to prohibit people from using their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to purchase soda and energy drinks. This is a waiver invited by US Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F Kennedy Jr., following the submission of similar waivers across the country.
Nebraska Appleseed’s Program Manager for Food and Nutrition Access, Eric Savaiano, issued the following statement in response:
“As the cost of living continues to rise and wages stagnate, one in thirteen Nebraskans use SNAP to buy the food they need to survive and feed their families. In a clear effort to fall in line with current federal ideology, Nebraska leadership has chosen to submit a waiver to restrict the purchase of soda and energy drinks with SNAP benefits. This not only adds to the many hoops SNAP participants already jump through to receive food benefits, but also imposes burdensome administration requirements on grocers, which can be especially harmful for small businesses.
Restrictions like the ones in this DHHS waiver assume that people with low incomes can’t make the right decision when it comes to food purchases. In fact, studies have shown that SNAP participants’ diets and food purchases are no different from the general population. Putting these restrictions in place will poverty-shame already stressed low-income Nebraskans and do nothing to fight the challenges facing American health.
Instead of demonizing SNAP participants and policing food choice, our state should have a serious discussion about the price of food, the adequacy of SNAP benefits, and real solutions to combat poverty.”
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