House Passed Farm Bill Includes Provision to Include Hot Rotisserie Chicken in SNAP

Washington, D.C. - During today's consideration of amendments to the Farm Bill, the House voted overwhelmingly (384-35) in support of Rep. Rick Crawford's (R-AR) commonsense and bipartisan amendment that would allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants to purchase hot rotisserie chicken using their benefits. Currently, participants can only buy a rotisserie chicken if it's cold, but not if it's hot.

"I want to thank Rep. Crawford for his leadership on this issue, and congratulate him for the passage of his amendment by such a wide and bipartisan margin," said NCC President Harrison Kircher. "I also want to congratulate House Ag Committee Chairman Thompson (R-PA) and committee staff for getting the Farm Bill over the finish line in the House.

"The 'Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act' is popular because it's a winner on affordability and nutrition. We urge the Senate as they consider their version of the Farm Bill to build on this momentum and the work of Sens. Justice (R-WV), Bennet (D-CO), Fetterman (D-PA) and Capito (R-WV) who last week introduced the bill in the Senate."

The amendment does not expand SNAP funding, broaden participant eligibility, or open SNAP to restaurants - it applies only to eligible retailers and only to hot rotisserie chicken.

The House went on to pass the overall Farm Bill (H.R. 7567) as amended, by a vote of 224 to 200.

BACKGROUND: Under current law, SNAP participants can purchase a cold rotisserie chicken but are barred from buying the same chicken if it is served hot - a distinction with no nutritional basis. To comply, some grocers heat rotisserie chickens and then cool them back down before sale, wasting energy and adding unnecessary cost. At roughly $7, a rotisserie chicken is one of the most affordable and complete protein options available in grocery stores and can feed an entire family. For the approximately 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP, removing this arbitrary restriction would expand access to a nutritious, ready-to-eat meal without adding any new money to the federal budget.