In an unsurprising but disappointing move, the Utah legislature decided they’re going to try to remove “ultra-processed” foods’ EBT eligibility through HB569. 

This bill rides the heels of the recently passed and implemented, “soda ban,” which prohibits use of EBT funds on flavored carbonated beverages that are sweetened with sugar or artificial sweeteners. Many other states have implemented similar restrictions, despite advocates far and wide sounding the alarm about the slippery slope such restrictions will lead to, and the impacts they have on EBT recipients. 

Utah lawmakers haven’t even fully defined the term, “ultra-processed foods,” yet. 

(R- Highland) Rep. Kristen Chevrier’s bill currently defines ultra-processed foods as, “food containing additives and that is high in saturated fat, sodium or added sugars.” But Chevrier told KSL she is still working on more precise wording. “The goal is to minimize the amount of ultra-processed, unhealthy food that is going into the SNAP grocery carts,” Chevrier said. “But this definition is not the final definition. We still have a lot of work to do, and we’re working on it.”

These representatives and legislators are so far removed from their constituents that they can’t even begin to fathom the impacts of their proposed bills, primarily because it doesn’t affect them personally. Even when they’re explicitly told what the negative outcomes will look like, they simply don’t care. 

Disabled people, the elderly, rural residents, single parents/guardians, and parents/guardians with many children rely on processed foods to survive. These foods are often more affordable than buying the equivalent unprocessed ingredients, they save time, and provide accessibility. 

Peanut butter is processed.

Cheese is processed. 

Canned vegetables are processed. 

What about, “ultra-processed”? The general definition is highly subjective, but largely includes: 

• Mass-produced bread

• Frozen meals 

• Processed/Pre-packaged meats (such as hot dogs, chicken nuggets, fish sticks, etc.) 

• Fruit drinks

• Flavored yogurt

• Most cereals 

• Meal replacement shakes

• Protein bars

• Instant potatoes

• Boxed dinners 

• Condiments and sauces (like mayonnaise, jarred pasta sauces, salad dressings, and ketchup) 

• Coffee creamer

The aforementioned list is far from being exhaustive, but it gives a preview of just how detrimental and overreaching an ultra-processed ban could be. 

In the United States, many consumers have been forced to purchase ultra-processed foods, due to their low cost over non-processed alternatives. They’re cheaper to purchase because they’re cheaper to manufacture and produce vs. unprocessed/raw foods. Food manufacturers receive government subsidies for “filler” ingredients like corn and soy, and can mass-produce foods at significantly less cost than small scale production. Processed and ultra-processed foods also have longer shelf lives that helps to reduce food waste, unlike perishable and fresh foods which have higher waste and logistics costs. 

Speaking of cost, for 18 servings of mashed potatoes, you can either buy a box of “brand name” ready-to-make Idahoan Original Instant Mashed Potatoes for $2.56, or, you can buy approximately 9-10 lbs. of russet potatoes for $4.24 (price source: Walmart). Gluten-free flour, such as Bob’s Red Mill GF 1-to-1 Baking Flour, 44oz, costs $8.56 in my area at Walmart (which produces about 3 loaves); whereas a gluten-free loaf of bread can be as cheap as $2/loaf from the Franz Bakery Outlet (source: I called my local Franz Outlet to check pricing). These prices for homemade/scratch-made items don’t include gas/transportation, labor, energy, or other necessary ingredients to make the final product. 

If states are going to restrict the food options eligible for EBT, then they’re going to have to increase the amount of EBT funds that people receive. But they won’t, and they can’t; that’s up to Congress and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Let’s touch on the details of how some disabilities impact food choices, too. Autistics tend to gravitate towards “same foods,” due to the textural and flavor familiarity that processed and ultra-processed foods provide. A pack of blueberries can contain every variety from tart/sour and hard, to sweet and squishy. With a box of Wheat Thins or Ritz, you can nearly guarantee that every cracker will look, taste and feel exactly the same. 

For diabetics experiencing a severe hypoglycemic event, endocrinologists largely recommend candy (like Smarties or jelly beans) over fruit, due to the rapid-acting sugar in candy. While fruit is “healthier,” the fiber in fruit can slow sugar absorption, making it a poor option for emergencies. 

A person who suffers from chronic migraines might be able to afford the occasional 2L of caffeinated soda (as cheap as 80¢) and follow the serving size guidelines, but not a bottle of generic Excedrin ($4.97 for Walmart’s generic ‘Equate’ brand)— which contains caffeine as an active ingredient. Caffeine, when used in moderation, provides relief by constricting blood vessels, reducing inflammation, and boosting the effectiveness of pain medications. 

If you have dexterity struggles, a learning disability that makes following a recipe difficult, a vision impairment or blindness, extreme fatigue, etc., pre-prepared and ultra-processed foods offer safe and quick -or even immediate- sustenance. Some people simply cannot prepare nutritious meals for themselves, let alone more than one food option on the plate, and not everyone has access to a caregiver to help them. 

Personally speaking, I’d rather people be fed and have access to what they can and will eat, than concern myself with how “healthy” the food options in their carts are. “Healthy” in and of itself is a wildly subjective term, too. Most ultra-processed foods include added and concentrated vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that help people meet their daily nutritional needs. 

For example, to match the vitamin and mineral content of one or two Boost shakes, a person would need to consume a large volume of diverse, nutrient-dense fruits, likely exceeding 4–5 cups daily. A single Boost bottle provides roughly 25-50% of the daily required vitamins A, C, D, E, and B-complex vitamins, which cannot be matched by one type of fruit alone. And diversity costs more money. 

The detailed breakdown of these factors are imperative to look at. Most EBT recipients don’t receive enough funds to be able to buy unprocessed ingredients in bulk to help offset the increased costs of making food from scratch. Lots of people can’t make their own foods from scratch for a variety of reasons. And restricting options doesn’t necessarily mean that carts will contain “healthier” options; in many cases, people will simply buy less and struggle more. 

Lawmakers are telling the most financially vulnerable population that they must pivot towards, “healthier options,” without addressing the factors of cost, labor, and accessibility. They don’t care about the impacts, they don’t care about your disabled child or your elderly parent, and they don’t care about your right to choose what you put in your own cart. The only thing that matters to them is control. 

These restrictions on EBT eligibility send the message that if you find yourself in a position to need food assistance, even if temporarily, you can kiss your freedom of choice goodbye. Utahns have consistently made fun of other states for being, “nanny-states,” but here they are, plotting to commit even more government overreach in the most hypocritical fashion possible.