Utah lawmakers have halted a proposed bill that would have restricted SNAP recipients from purchasing ultra-processed foods like chips, cookies, and sugary cereals. The House Health and Human Services Committee voted to hold HB569, introduced by Rep. Kristen Chevrier, R-Highland, rather than advance it to further examine the issue.

Last year's legislation removed soda from SNAP funding, which the Department of Workforce Services implemented in January. Chevrier's bill would have built on that by targeting ultra-processed foods once a federal definition is established. The representative argued that SNAP should provide nutrition to vulnerable populations rather than contributing to obesity and diabetes rates, which she said affect 60% to 73% of the U.S. diet.

Critics raised concerns about stigma for low-income families, the difficulty of implementation within a three-month timeline, and the potential impact on seniors and people with disabilities who rely on convenient packaged foods. The Utah Retail Merchants Association president compared removing soda to a "single axel" while this proposal would be a "quintuple axel." Several committee members expressed hesitation about ceding power to federal definitions, with one noting that the broader issue of food accessibility and health barriers extends beyond ultra-processed foods alone.