Get into this one, roommates! The Trump administration is looking to restrict Americans from using SNAP benefits on junk food. Naturally, the potential ban has inspired mixed reactions on social media and beyond. Earlier this week, Adam Housley—who is married to Tamera Mowry—weighed in by highlighting his experiences with food stamps fraud.
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Here’s The Context On The Potential Ban
For the last 48 hours, Tamera Mowry’s husband has been clocking folks who he says missed the point in his recent comments. So, let’s break down what he actually said. On February 18, Adam replied to a post citing a New York Times article. The post highlighted Robert F. Kennedy Jr.‘s potential junk food ban for receipts of SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy Jr. and the new Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins want to restrict certain treats, like “soda or processed foods,” from being SNAP eligible. The program shells out about $113 billion dollars to about 42 million Americans.
“The one place that I would say that we need to really change policy is the SNAP program and food stamps and in-school lunches,” Kennedy Jr. said on Fox News last week. “There, the federal government, in many cases, is paying for it. And we shouldn’t be subsidizing people to eat poison.”
In a separate interview, Rollins agreed with Kennedy’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ movement. She said, “When a taxpayer is putting money into SNAP, are they OK with us using their tax dollars to feed really bad food and sugary drinks to children who perhaps need something more nutritious?”
Adam Housley Calls Out Past Fraud With Stamps
On X, Adam Housley explained his past experience with folks committing fraud using the stamps.
“…I can’t tell you how many times I saw people come in and buy crap food for their kids with food stamps, then open the wallet and use cash for liquor, beer, wine, and cigarettes,” Adam Housley wrote. “Then there were those who would repeatedly buy a lemon or lime, get the change, walk out the door, throw them away, and do it again. Until they had enough change to buy cigarettes or alcohol. As a kid, it pissed me off because there are some people who could really use the help, and then there are these others working the system.”
To clarify, SNAP benefits are now available on a debit card. However, during Adam’s childhood, recipients used physical food stamps—think clipped coupons! As the critiques piled in, he explained in another post how receipts obtained “change” from stamps to use on non-food items. Adam also acknowledged the changed stamps-to-card system.
Hey dipshit. If the lime is 10 cents and they give a 1 dollar food stamp, we were required to give 90 cents in change. Walk out the front door and do it multiple times. https://t.co/F74qEX5jy8
— Adam Housley (@adamhousley) February 18, 2025
As Tamera Mowry’s hubby continued tweeting, the mixed reactions also kept pouring in! In other posts, he clarified that he wasn’t against people getting assistance but has an issue with the alleged corruption.
What people need to understand is that there is an absolute need for assistance in this country and we should absolutely provide it…and as part of that, help people get off it with proper training and support.
Unfortunately the system has been corrupted. In California it’s…— Adam Housley (@adamhousley) February 19, 2025
Yeah not talking about moms on food stamps. I clearly defended helping families in need and clearly saw those taking advantage. Funny. Those taking advantage are the ones who hurt moms in need. Plus we’ve been helping families in need since I was a kid…you? https://t.co/pZUI3jNz0h
— Adam Housley (@adamhousley) February 19, 2025
Here’s Why Restricting SNAP Purchases Will Be A Challenge
Still, removing certain foods from SNAP isn’t as simple as it sounds. The program is run by the USDA, not HHS, and is administered through individual states. It is authorized by the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. The act says SNAP benefits can be used for “any food or food product intended for human consumption,” except alcohol, tobacco, and hot foods, including those prepared for immediate consumption.
According to senior policy analyst Katie Bergh, excluding any foods would require Congress to change the law or for states to get waivers to restrict purchases. Over the past twenty years, lawmakers in several states have proposed stopping SNAP from paying for bottled water, soda, chips, ice cream, decorated cakes, and “luxury meats” like steak.
“None of those requests have ever been approved under either Republican or Democratic presidents,” Bergh said.
In the past, Agriculture Department officials rejected the waivers. In a 2007 paper, the agency said that no clear standards exist to define foods “as good or bad, or healthy or not healthy.” Additionally, the agency also said restrictions would be difficult to implement, complicated, and costly. And they might not change recipients’ food purchases or reduce conditions such as obesity.
Bills are pending in Congress and in several states to restrict SNAP benefits from paying for soda, candy, and other items. Rep. Josh Breechan, an Oklahoma Republican, sponsored the Healthy SNAP Act.
“If someone wants to buy junk food on their own dime, that’s up to them,” he said. “But what we’re saying is, ‘Don’t ask the taxpayer to pay for it and then also expect the taxpayer to pick up the tab for the resulting health consequences.’”
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Associated Press staff Jonel Aleccia and Mary Conlon contributed to this report.
What Do You Think Roomies?