Arkansas Fails To Ban Food Stamp Usage On Junk Food

An effort to ban food stamps from being used to purchase soda or junk food has failed in the Arkansas House.

The proposal to ban Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits from being used to purchase candy, soda, or energy drinks failed Monday on a 37-29 vote. The lawmaker behind the bill says the measure would have forced recipients to make healthier choices.

The ban also would have required federal approval.

Opponents say the ban would be unfair to SNAP recipients and would be too costly for retailers to enforce.

The House passed a similar bill two years ago, but it did not advance in the Senate. More than 360,000 people participate in the food stamp program in Arkansas.