Members of Congress from both parties want to let people on the federal food stamp program buy hot rotisserie chickens with their benefits.
Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) and 17 other members of the House of Representatives on April 22 introduced legislation that would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and make clear that benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps, could be used to buy hot rotisserie chicken.
Four senators filed a similar measure in the Senate.
Food stamps cannot be used to buy everything in a grocery store. Hot, prepared foods are prohibited under the program. Food stamps can be used for cooked rotisserie chicken, but only if it has been allowed to cool.
Lawmakers said allowing families to buy hot chicken, which is typically sold for $5 to $10 at stores such as Costco and Giant, is a way to help families struggling with affordability.
“It is just plain common sense to allow SNAP participants to purchase a rotisserie chicken with their benefits,” Crawford said in a statement. “Hot rotisserie chicken is healthy, widely available, popular in grocery stores, and aligned with the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans.”
Hellbound and Down 