Federal: HR813

Bill Summary

US HR 813, the Funding is Zero for Zero Nutrition Options (FIZZ-NO) Act of 2025, would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to prohibit the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to purchase soda, defined as carbonated beverages containing more than 1 gram of added sugar, artificial sweetener, or flavoring per serving. The bill adds "soda" to the existing list of items that cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits, which already includes alcoholic beverages. The legislation would take effect 180 days after enactment, allowing retailers and state administrators time to implement the restriction. This is a straightforward eligibility restriction on what foods SNAP recipients can purchase with federal nutrition assistance.

Why It Matters to MAHA

MAHA does not support this bill. While MAHA strongly opposes artificial sweeteners and added sugars in processed foods, this bill approaches the problem through government paternalism and restriction of individual choice rather than through transparency and health freedom. The bill does not address the root problem: why sugar-sweetened and artificially-sweetened sodas are legally sold at all when evidence shows they contribute to obesity, diabetes, and metabolic disease. Instead of restricting what low-income Americans can buy, MAHA would prioritize removing harmful ingredients from the food supply entirely and ensuring all Americans have transparent information about what they consume. This bill treats the symptom rather than the disease and infantilizes SNAP recipients by making purchasing decisions for them rather than empowering them with knowledge.