PPA Submits Comments on USDA’s SNAP Stocking Proposal

Last week, PPA submitted formal comments to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on the proposed “Updated Staple Food Stocking Standards for Retailers in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)” (RIN 0584–AF12). PPA comments align with NACS’ position on the issue and expand on the thousands of SNAP-authorized retailers in Pennsylvania with limited shelf and cooler space. The convenience store industry warns that strict new stocking mandates—especially in the grains and dairy categories — could force many stores to drop SNAP participation, restricting essential food access for SNAP households.

Key Concerns Raised

• Grains category: The proposal would require stocking seven distinct grain varieties, including raw grains and flours that convenience stores generally don’t carry. Under the new rule, popular items such as bread, tortillas, bagels, cereals, and frozen breakfast items would count only as a single variety — limiting retailers’ flexibility. PPA urges USDA to restore the 2019 approach, which distinguished whole-grain from non-whole-grain items.

• Dairy category: Many small stores lack the cooler capacity to safely stock a wide variety of perishable dairy or plant-based products. The proposed requirements would increase cost and waste. PPA recommends reinstating the 2019 framework that allowed fat-level variations of milk and yogurt to count separately, offering greater flexibility.

NACS and PPA supports USDA’s goal of improving nutrition and food access for SNAP participants — but emphasizes that implementation must take small-format retailers into account. Without meaningful flexibility in the final rule, many stores could be forced out of the program, creating access gaps for many SNAP families.