The "Hot Foods Act of 2025" amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, allowing SNAP benefits to be used for hot and ready-to-eat foods.
Grace Meng
Representative
NY-6
The "Hot Foods Act of 2025" amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, allowing SNAP benefits to be used for hot and ready-to-eat foods. It broadens the scope of eligible food items under SNAP and modifies retailer eligibility requirements, permitting more stores to accept SNAP if hot food sales do not exceed 50% of their gross sales. This change also updates the language regarding where SNAP-eligible food can be consumed to include "home or immediate consumption".
SNAP Update Proposed: Hot Foods Could Soon Be on the Menu with Benefits Under New Bill
A proposal called the "Hot Foods Act of 2025" aims to tweak the rules for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). If passed, this bill would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to allow SNAP benefits to be used for purchasing hot foods and hot food products that are ready for immediate consumption.
Expanding the Menu: What Changes for SNAP Users
The biggest shift here is redefining what counts as "eligible food" under SNAP. Currently, benefits generally can't be used for hot, prepared meals you'd eat right away. This bill specifically adds "hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption" to the list of approved items. Think things like rotisserie chickens, hot sandwiches from a deli counter, or prepared soups. For individuals and families who might lack consistent access to cooking facilities—like those experiencing homelessness, some seniors, or people in temporary housing—this could significantly broaden their options for getting a meal.
Where You Could Shop: Retailer Rules Get an Update
The bill also adjusts the rules for stores that want to accept SNAP. It proposes allowing retailers to be SNAP-authorized as long as hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption don't make up more than 50 percent of their total sales. This could potentially open the door for more types of vendors, like certain delis or grocery stores with significant prepared food sections, to accept SNAP benefits, potentially increasing convenience and access points for recipients.