TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – Changes are coming for the over 3 million Texans who receive SNAP benefits.
Starting April 1, Texans will no longer be able to purchase Candy or sweetened drinks.
The state defines a sweetened drink as having five or more grams of added sugar.
Governor Abbott has called the move a healthy one for Texas.
“Don’t go in blind, be prepared. If you need help with that, we can have a conversation,” said Noe Balderas, the Emergency Services Director at PATH in Tyler. “If you’re used to buying these specific items and then all of a sudden you can’t do that anymore, obviously it’s going to cause some ripples.”
Grocery stores are responsible for coding items correctly. Brookshires is working with the state to meet the new guidelines. They provided KLTV with the following statement.
“Brookshire Grocery Company is implementing the State of Texas’ updated requirements related to SNAP. We are programming the changes directly into our point‑of‑sale systems to ensure consistency and compliance across our Texas stores. Our priority is caring for our customers while accurately implementing state‑mandated SNAP changes, and we’re working closely with the state to ensure those guidelines are applied correctly. We are committed to treating every customer with respect and ensuring they feel supported when they shop with us.”
For more on the new guidelines, click here.
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