The rewrite would help make the regulations work for small retailers.
The omnibus spending bill just passed by Congress included a provision that would require the Food & Nutrition Service (FNS) to rewrite the definition of “variety” in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) retailer eligibility regulations, according to the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS).
The rewrite would allow retailers participating in SNAP more options for which foods can count toward staple food stocking requirements, which is particularly good for small format retailers. Whereas previously, the definition made it hard for retailers to stock popular products in order to meet their SNAP requirements.
“For instance, a retailer who stocks bacon and ham could only count one of those items toward his stocking requirements, because retailers can only count one meat per animal. In order to meet the requirements of seven varieties of food in the four staple food categories, retailers would have to stock expensive and uncommon items like shrimp and goat cheese,” NACS explained.
However, according to the provision, until FNS rewrites their definition, retailers will have to comply with the old SNAP requirements, which require retailers to stock three varieties of food in the four staple food categories.
To participate in SNAP, convenience stores must stock seven varieties of foods in the four staple food categories: (a) meat, poultry or fish; (b) dairy; (c) breads or cereals; and (d) fruits or vegetables, NACS pointed out.