A new report from State Auditor Shad White suggests Mississippi could save more than $22 million annually — while also improving public health — by restricting the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits on certain junk foods.
White’s office found that nearly one in eight Mississippians, about 357,000 people, currently receive SNAP benefits to purchase groceries. However, a significant share of those dollars are spent on items like sugary drinks, candy, desserts, and salty snacks. Nationwide, nearly 23% of all SNAP spending goes toward such products.
In Mississippi, that amounts to an estimated $190 million a year in taxpayer funds used to provide junk food through the program. The report suggests that if Mississippi obtained a federal waiver to prohibit the purchase of sugary drinks and candy with SNAP benefits, roughly $95 million could be redirected to more nutritious options.
“President Trump is focused on Making America Healthy Again, so we need to Make Mississippi Healthy Again,” said Auditor White. “That means a renewed commitment to exercise and teaching our children healthy habits, but it also means using a little more common sense in how we spend taxpayer money on food stamps.”
The analysis further argues that restricting unhealthy purchases could have long-term benefits for the state budget. Research cited in the report shows that 78% of SNAP participants are also enrolled in Medicaid. If obesity and other chronic diseases linked to poor nutrition decreased by just 1% among this group, Mississippi’s Medicaid program could see savings of up to $22 million per year.
White said such a change would not only help reduce taxpayer costs but could also encourage healthier choices for Mississippi families.
The full report is available on the State Auditor’s website under the “Reports” tab by searching “SNAP.”
