Let Them Eat Cake: EBT Food Restrictions Spark Debate in Muscogee County

By Janell Williams

A new wave of proposed restrictions under the Healthy SNAP Act of 2025 is stirring deep concerns and passionate discussion across Muscogee County. The legislation, aimed at improving dietary habits among low-income families, would prevent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients from using Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to purchase so-called “junk foods,” including candy, sugary beverages, pre-packaged snacks — and even birthday cakes.

The Healthy SNAP Act, introduced by lawmakers earlier this year, seeks to reduce the nation’s growing health crisis linked to poor diet, particularly among children in low-income households. It reflects a broader national conversation around how public benefits should — or shouldn’t — be used. Proponents argue the measure could help combat chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, and childhood obesity. But many local residents and advocates say the bill oversimplifies the issue and risks stigmatizing the very families it seeks to help.

"Let them have the cake," said Heather Lowery, a Columbus resident. "The kid who wouldn't get a birthday cake otherwise. The one who just wants to feel like every other child for one day."

Critics of the bill argue that it infringes on personal freedom and family dignity, particularly in communities where food insecurity is already a daily struggle. Muscogee County is no exception, with thousands of families depending on SNAP benefits to make ends meet.

Belva Dorsey-Mott, Chief Executive Officer of the Enrichment Services Program, a Columbus-based nonprofit that administers Head Start and Early Head Start programs, offered a more measured response. “This discussion is tough,” she said. “I can understand people who support this change and people who don’t.”

Dorsey-Mott acknowledged that the act’s emphasis on nutrition aligns with her organization's educational goals, which include instilling healthy eating habits at a young age. Still, she voiced concern that the policy may unintentionally harm families who already face barriers to accessing healthy foods.

"If we are going to promote healthy meals, then it should be promoted for all families," she said. “Right now, healthy food costs more. And it’s not always available in every neighborhood. So how can we ask struggling families to make better choices when those choices aren’t even on the shelf?”

Her remarks echo what many in Muscogee County are feeling — that well-meaning policies must be paired with systemic support, including better food education, improved access to fresh produce, and more affordable grocery options.

As the Healthy SNAP Act of 2025 moves toward potential implementation, residents, educators, and nonprofit leaders in Muscogee County continue to weigh in. The debate has brought renewed attention to the complexities of food equity, raising questions about who gets to decide what families can eat — and what it truly means to nourish a community.