Under the waiver approved by the USDA, starting Jan. 1, 2026, Iowans who receive SNAP won’t be able to use their benefits to purchase items including garden seeds and food-producing plants, candy, gum, soft drinks, lemonade, fruit snacks, certain granola bars and caramel corn.
Doctors, nurses, food bank directors and other social safety net providers across Iowa warn major cuts to public health insurance and food assistance programs could lead to crowded emergency rooms, more rural hospital closures, drained family budgets, overworked providers and reduce care for veterans, seniors and children.
The state is seeking to restrict any food or beverage that qualifies for the state sales tax from purchase with SNAP. That list includes garden seeds, candy, gum, soft drinks and certain granola bars among other items.
“Healthy Kids Iowa” -- a new program announced Wednesday by Gov. Kim Reynolds -- will provide qualifying families with $40 worth of food per child per month in June, July and August. It replaces a summer food program that Reynolds opted out of. It would have provided $29 million in federal food assistance funding for an estimated 240,000 children in the state.
The appropriation in the Iowa House legislation would be contingent on the U.S. Department of Agriculture approving a waiver for SNAP exemptions that could strike nearly two-thirds of food products at a grocery store from eligibility.
It’s been almost six months since Together We Achieve, a Cedar Rapids food pantry, reached out to the community in a last-ditch effort to prevent closure. Now, almost three months into 2025, the pantry is still open and things are looking up, according to its executive director.
Also, 3 people charged after protests at Iowa Capitol
Iowa anti-hunger advocates called on state leaders to participate in a summer federal food benefits program and raise income-eligibility requirements to fight hunger in Iowa.
Iowa Giving Coalition gave away 2,000 Thanksgiving meals last weekend, 1,400 of which went to people in Cedar Rapids.
The USDA said Iowa failed to provide “compelling evidence of the potential benefits of an untested alternative model.” Gov. Kim Reynolds said Iowa will reapply for a waiver under the new Trump administration.
Iowa had requested a waiver from the federal ag department to prohibit SNAP benefits from being used to purchase lab-grown meat or egg substitute products; USDA denied the request
Also, Iowa airports call on U.S. senators to oppose bill that could impact travel rewards
A garden at Northern Illinois University is part of the Edible Campus program, which aims to address food insecurity among students through creating hands-on, sustainable food systems.
Also, Iowa Agriculture Secretary re-establishes advisory council eliminated by lawmakers
With elements of social media, recipe books and educational tools, the website is converging a community around its love of food while fight hunger — both for website users and those struggling with food insecurity.
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