House passes measure allowing SNAP recipients to buy rotisserie chicken
According to the bill, the prices of rotisserie chickens are often priced far lower than their raw and uncooked counterparts, acting as a draw to get customers in the door, spending money on other, higher margin items.
More Stories
A long‑standing restriction on what families can purchase with federal food assistance may soon change. The U.S. House has approved a measure that would allow recipients of the SNAP program to buy cooked rotisserie chicken, a shift supporters say could make a meaningful difference for low‑income households.
According to the bill, the prices of rotisserie chickens are often priced far lower than their raw and uncooked counterparts, acting as a draw to get customers in the door, spending money on other, higher margin items.
The bill would allow the most vulnerable families access to those savings.
Currently, SNAP rules prohibit the purchase of any prepared or hot foods. The new bill creates a narrow exception for rotisserie chicken, which is often one of the least expensive ready‑to‑eat items in grocery stores.
Shoppers interviewed about the proposal expressed broad support.
“If they are on SNAP, they should be able to buy whatever — as long as it is food,” one shopper said.
Another added, “Groceries are so expensive and hot food so expensive — it’s good to have a hot meal in your diet.” A third shopper said, “Yeah, you want hot food, you buy hot food. I support that.”
Many were shocked to learn of the hot food restriction for SNAP recipients.
Food pantries also welcomed the change.
Many organizations say people turn to them specifically because they lack access to hot meals.
Sister Caroline Tweedy, director of the Bread and Life Center, said the current rules overlook the realities many low‑income residents face.
“People might be working and be at the poverty level and be able to accept SNAP, but they still don't have access to a kitchen because they might live in one room that they rent,” she said. Expanding access to hot foods, she added, “would be more efficient, in the long run.”
She says her center serves hundreds of hot meals a day, and welcomes the ability for recipients to have more options.
However, it's a desire for more choices for recipes that caused some to oppose the bill.
New York Rep. Grace Meng, whose district covers parts of Queens, voted against the measure because she is pushing for broader reform that would allow all hot foods to qualify for SNAP, not just rotisserie chicken.
Sister Caroline Tweedy tells News 12 she would support that bill, citing a need for variety in people's diets on SNAP and certain restrictions.
"Not everyone eats chicken, but we know how time-burdened families are, and they need a hot meal," she said. She says the bill would not change organizations like her ability to purchase hot and canned food in bulk, as despite serving those on SNAP, their funding source does not directly tie into the system's current Point of Sale restrictions.
The House‑passed bill now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
