Staff report

Carbonated drinks high in sugar or similar sweeteners would be barred from purchase under the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a group proposed last week.

Created by Gov. Mike DeWine, the work group was asked to provide recommendations for a federal waiver request to ban certain beverages from SNAP benefits. The group targeted drinks rich in sugar or similar caloric sweeteners.

Specifically, the group recommended that Ohio seek a U.S. Department of Agriculture waiver to prevent the use of SNAP benefits to purchase beverages that list sugar, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup or other sweeteners as the primary ingredient or as the second ingredient if the first ingredient is carbonated water. Such beverages have been shown to have minimal nutritional value and to contribute to conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

“Over the course of our meetings, we heard from experts in the areas of food nutrition, health outcomes, public health and nutrition programs, and retail logistics,” said Matt Damschroder, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. “I applaud our working group for recommending a solution that puts Ohio on the path to better health outcomes.”

In making its recommendation, the group said it considered presentations and information provided in areas such as nutrition and children’s health, the history of SNAP, impact on retailers and the logistics of carrying out and enforcing new restrictions. The group recommended that ODJFS submit a waiver with a simple definition, which will both ease implementation on the retail side and help Ohioans who receive SNAP benefits understand what is and what is not allowable.

The recommendations, if approved by the governor, will be used by ODJFS to submit a waiver request by Oct. 28. USDA Food and Nutrition Service must approve the waiver for the ban to take effect.