Naturally Network Call to Action: Reduction of SNAP Benefits
The country’s largest anti-hunger program has been frozen for the first time since it began six decades ago. Approximately 42 million Americans who receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will be impacted by these disruptions, with nearly 39% of recipients being children and adolescents under 18, according to the USDA. As responsible members of the natural products industry – which is rooted in wellness, integrity, and nourishment for all – we cannot just stand by.
Why this matters now:
In 2023, 13.5 % of U.S. households (about 18 million homes) experienced food insecurity at least some time during the year. (Economic Research Service)
Among households with children, 17.9 % faced food insecurity. (Economic Research Service)
Meanwhile, proposed changes to SNAP would reduce participation by an estimated 2.4 million people — nearly 6 % of the current total — while work requirements expand. (Penn LDI)
Experts warn that these cuts are not just numbers — “Millions of Americans … are going to lose their benefits, or at least see their benefits be reduced, and the implications … are very alarming.” Harvard Chan School of Public Health
See recent reporting and how it impacts your specific state here.
Our call to action for the industry:
IMMEDIATE ASK: Ensure our communities have access to nutritious choices — We must create pathways so that nutritious, wholesome foods reach communities facing urgent need, whether that’s via donations, retail partnerships, or co-designing solutions with food banks and local networks.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT: Advocate for accessibility to wellness — Healthy, good-for-you products should never feel exclusive. We must advocate for pricing, packaging, channels, and programs that lower the barrier of entry so that wellness isn’t a luxury during a time of crisis.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT: Strengthen local food ecosystems — When benefits fall short, the gaps get deeper. We must build a more reliable safety net by investing in infrastructure, local sourcing, regional distribution, and community-based solutions.
This is more than a policy issue. It’s about our neighbors, fellow parents, colleagues, and loved ones who too often must choose between groceries and medicine, or between nourishing their child and paying the rent. We hold the tools and values to change that.
So let’s lead with purpose and prove that better-for-you can also mean better-for-everyone.
Naturally Network calls on the natural products industry to show up and put values into practice. Join us by donating and sharing resources with the organizations below:
What they do: A national network of 200+ food banks and 60,000+ partner agencies, distributing billions of meals and engaging in policy/advocacy around food assistance. They also engage in food rescue (see their “reduce food-waste” work).
What we can do: Industry brands could (a) donate product or partner on “natural/healthy food” lines to their network; (b) support fresh produce or premium natural items in food-bank distribution; (c) collaborate on advocacy around healthy food access when benefits drop.
What they do: Focuses on ending childhood hunger in the U.S. – ensuring children get healthy food every day, strengthening school-meals, after-school, community efforts.
What we can do: Great partner for brands that make child- or family-oriented natural products. Could co-develop campaigns, fundraising, product donation to child-hunger relief with emphasis on healthy/natural choices.
What they do: National nonprofit that mobilizes transportation & logistics networks to deliver surplus food to communities in need.
What we can do: If brands/distributors have surplus or natural-product overstock, this is a channel. Also useful for logistics partnerships and aligning natural-product donation with food-bank logistics & networks.
What they do: National food-rescue nonprofit. They connect surplus fresh/wholesale/retail food to hunger-relief agencies.
What we can do: Key route for redirecting surplus or imperfect/overrun natural/organic goods; also helps brands avoid waste while supporting hunger relief.
What they do: US-based non-profit recovering excess produce from farms/donors and distributing to food-insecure communities. Rescued 130+ million pounds of food across 400+ communities.
What we can do: Especially relevant for natural/organic produce companies. Brands or farms in our network could partner on produce rescue, farm-to-food-bank pipelines, co-investment in logistic/processing infrastructure.
