Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture published the final rule regarding stocking standards for retailers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, ensuring a broader variety of nutritious food is available to SNAP participants at authorized retailers across the country.
Since the beginning of the Trump Administration, the Food and Nutrition Service has taken action on nearly 3,200 retailers regarding current stocking standards, either for failing to meet them upon application or failing to maintain them once authorized. The latter results in disqualification from accepting SNAP benefits.
Retailers authorized to accept SNAP benefits must now carry seven varieties of items across four categories of staple foods: protein, grains, dairy, and fruits and vegetables. This change more than doubles the requirement of available foods, emphasizes more whole foods, increases the perishable food requirements, and eliminates loopholes that for too long have allowed retailers to count certain snack foods toward their staple food requirements.
These updates go into effect Fall 2026, and the Department plans to issue additional guidance to retailers in the coming weeks.
USDA news release
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