Sponsors (4)
The bill creates a clear statutory definition of 'soda' that can improve nutrition-program guidance and administration but may lead to restricted purchase options for benefit recipients and impose compliance costs on beverage producers and retailers.
Low-income individuals and children would have clearer rules distinguishing 'soda' from other beverages, which can support healthier purchase guidance in nutrition programs and public health messaging.
State and local program administrators would gain a concrete statutory definition of 'soda' to apply when writing rules or guidance about sugary/ artificially sweetened carbonated drinks, reducing ambiguity in administration.
Low-income shoppers and families could face narrower choices if agencies use the definition to restrict purchases with nutrition benefits.
Small beverage makers and retailers could incur compliance costs from reclassifying or relabeling products to meet the statutory threshold.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Introduced January 28, 2025 by Keith Self · Last progress January 28, 2025
Adds a single, statutory definition of "soda" into the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, defining it as a carbonated beverage that contains more than 1 gram of added sugar, artificial sweetener, or flavoring per serving. The change is purely definitional, contains no funding, enforcement, regulatory text, or program changes, and takes effect 180 days after enactment.