Latest from Food Politics: USDA expands stocking standards for retailers who serve SNAP recipients

The USDA has announced that retailers who serve SNAP recipients will now have to carry more real food.   As of fall 2026, Retailers authorized to accept SNAP benefits must now carry seven varieties of items across four categories of staple foods: ...

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By Marion Nestle May 19 2026 USDA expands stocking standards for retailers who serve SNAP recipients The USDA has announced that retailers who serve SNAP recipients will now have to carry more real food.  As of fall 2026, Retailers authorized to accept SNAP benefits must now carry seven varieties of items across four categories of staple foods: protein, grains, dairy, and fruits and vegetables. This change more than doubles the requirement of available foods, emphasizes more whole foods, increases the perishable food requirements, and eliminates loopholes that for too long have allowed retailers to count certain snack foods toward their staple food requirements. The stocking standards final rule and Federal Register notice spell out the details.  Retailers who accept SNAP EBT cards will have to offer at least 7—instead of the former 3—varieties of dairy, vegetables or fruits, grains, and protein.  Some foods that used to count as varieties no longer will: butter, jerky, cheese dip, snack bars, fruit spreads even though they can still be purchased from SNAP benefits. Comment As with everything else this administration does, this action requires translation.  At first glance, it looks terrific.  SNAP recipients, especially those without access to supermarkets, will have greater access to fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods. Access, of course, is only the first step in eating healthier foods.  Affordability and cultural preferences matter even more. And here’s a clue to what this is really about: Since the beginning of the Trump Administration, the Food and Nutrition Service has taken action on nearly 3,200 retailers regarding current stocking standards, either for failing to meet them upon application or failing to maintain them once authorized. The latter results in disqualification from accepting SNAP benefits. As explained by the Food Research & Action Center, the USDA stocking rules will make it difficult for small groceries to meet the requirements, continue to accept SNAP benefits, and stay in business. Furthermore, according to an analysis by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the new rules have nothing to do with helping SNAP recipients eat more healthfully.  This is because there are no nutrition standards for the varieties: “The irony is not lost on us that the Trump Administration says “eat real food” but won’t require stores to stock it.” Bottom line: Alas, this looks like yet another mechanism for making SNAP harder to use and reducing the number of participants. The post USDA expands stocking standards for retailers who serve SNAP recipients appeared first on Food Politics by Marion Nestle      Related Posts More tragedy: USDA renames, splits up, relocates SNAP services Just as expected, SNAP participation is declining, and by a lot Lawsuit #2: SNAP restrictions   Now Available: What to Eat Now My new book, What to Eat Now, is officially out! It's both a field guide to food shopping in America and a reflection on how to eat well—and deliciously. For more information and to order, click here. You can explore the full archive of this (almost) daily blog at foodpolitics.com, where you'll also find information about my books, articles, media interviews, upcoming lectures, favorite resources, and FAQs. Visit the Site » ​​​​​​​ Marion Nestle Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University, Emerita © Marion Nestle. You're receiving this email because you've signed up to receive updates from us. If you'd prefer not to receive updates, you can unsubscribe. Safely Unsubscribe • Archives • Preferences • Contact • Subscribe • Privacy

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Latest from Food Politics: Meat industry: the funding effect

Navid Teimouri, who is at the School of Public Health, University of Queensland, sent me his team’s recently published analysis of meat industry sponsored nutrition studies and their outcomes: Is Meat Industry Affiliation Associated With Study ...

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By Marion Nestle May 18 2026 Meat industry: the funding effect Navid Teimouri, who is at the School of Public Health, University of Queensland, sent me his team’s recently published analysis of meat industry sponsored nutrition studies and their outcomes: Is Meat Industry Affiliation Associated With Study Conclusion in Nutrition Research? A Meta-Research Review. This is a classic study of what the late Sheldon Krimsky called the “funding effect,” the bias toward favorable results caused by industry sponsorship of research. The authors examined 500 research studies of meat and health outcome. The results: Of 500 included studies, 78 (15.6%) reported industry involvement. Studies with industry ties were 16 times more likely to report favorable conclusions regarding meat consumption (odds ratio [OR] = 16.4, 95% CI: 7.5–35.8), and there was a significant association (p < 0.001) between industry involvement and study conclusion. The conclusion: Meat industry involvement significantly increases the likelihood of favorable study conclusions in nutrition research. These findings underscore the need for caution when interpreting research funded or associated with the meat industry and emphasize the importance of minimizing conflicts of interest in nutrition research. Comment When I wrote my book, Unsavory Truth, I could only find a few funding-effect studies dealing with food or nutrition.  This one adds to the collection.  It confirms previous findings.  Only a small percent of nutrition research is industry funded, but those studies are more likely to find results favoring the sponsor’s commercial interests than those that are not industry funded.  Why?  Food companies are unlikely to sponsor research that might find their products harmful.  Sheldon Krimsky mostly looked at studies funded by the pharmaceutical drug industry.  Studies funded by food or nutrition companies share similar biases. The post Meat industry: the funding effect appeared first on Food Politics by Marion Nestle      Related Posts A rare exception: an industry-funded study with negative results Industry-funded study of the week: Full-fat dairy and body weight Industry-funded study of the week: The Sweet Tooth Trial   Now Available: What to Eat Now My new book, What to Eat Now, is officially out! It's both a field guide to food shopping in America and a reflection on how to eat well—and deliciously. For more information and to order, click here. You can explore the full archive of this (almost) daily blog at foodpolitics.com, where you'll also find information about my books, articles, media interviews, upcoming lectures, favorite resources, and FAQs. Visit the Site » ​​​​​​​ Marion Nestle Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University, Emerita © Marion Nestle. You're receiving this email because you've signed up to receive updates from us. If you'd prefer not to receive updates, you can unsubscribe. Safely Unsubscribe • Archives • Preferences • Contact • Subscribe • Privacy

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