US food policy and industry players are navigating a week of sweeping regulatory and economic shifts, including new SNAP restrictions, rising tariffs and federal push to define ultra-processed foods.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins signed the Healthy SNAP waivers to prohibit the use of food assistance benefits to purchase of “unhealthy” foods in West Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas in 2026.
The waivers reflect a growing policy shift toward nutrition-based eligibility for public food benefits, aligning with FDA’s updated definition of “healthy” and the broader goals of the Make America Healthy Again initiative. But as states prepare to implement restrictions on soda and candy purchases, food and retail industry stakeholders raise concerns about operational complexity, limited retailer guidance and the potential for reduced access in communities where convenience stores are often the only nearby option.
With limited data on the effectiveness of SNAP restrictions and growing interest in incentive-based approaches like Double Up Food Bucks, questions remain around how these pilots will be evaluated – and whether they will ultimately support health equity or strain the retail landscape in underserved areas.
Read the full story here: USDA greenlights SNAP restriction pilots in 6 states, prompting industry pushback
USDA & HHS seek unified definition for ultra-processed foods amid industry calls for science-based approach
Federal agencies are jointly pursuing a standardized definition of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) to inform public health policy and improve consumer transparency, citing mounting research linking UPFs to chronic disease.
While industry groups support the goal, they caution that any definition must prioritize nutritional value and science-based outcomes over processing levels alone, pushing back against reliance on the NOVA classification system.
Read the full story here: A federal definition of ultra-processed foods is in the works, industry weighs in
Hershey lowers earnings guidance as tariffs and cocoa costs weigh on profitability
Despite posting a strong Q2 – boasting a 26% year‑over‑year sales jump led by a 32% gain in North American confectionery – the company slashed its full-year earnings guidance due to escalating cocoa prices and tariffs.
It now expects $170–180 million in tariff expenses and a 36–38% drop in adjusted EPS.
CEO Michele Buck emphasized that without tariffs, Hershey would have raised its forecast, while expressing optimism about securing a cocoa tariff exemption.
Read the full story here: Hershey warns tariffs and higher cocoa costs will take a toll in back half of 2025
