Senate Considers the Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act
Containers of rotisserie chicken are shown on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, at a Costco store in North Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
A group of lawmakers from both parties is pushing to make a popular, ready-to-eat meal eligible for government food assistance: the grocery store rotisserie chicken. On Tuesday, senators introduced legislation known as the “Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act,” aimed at updating the 2008 Food and Nutrition Act so that hot rotisserie chicken would count as an approved purchase under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
As it stands, SNAP benefits typically cannot be used for hot, prepared foods. While a cooked chicken that has cooled down is allowed, one that’s still hot at the store is not.
Supporters of the proposal say the change would make a meaningful difference for people who don’t have consistent access to kitchens or cooking tools. Senator Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, one of the bill’s sponsors, emphasized that the effort is about making food access easier and more practical for seniors and working families, while also preserving a sense of dignity.
The measure has backing from a bipartisan group that includes Senators John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Jim Justice of West Virginia, and Michael Bennet of Colorado. Lawmakers involved say the proposal is narrowly focused—it would not increase SNAP funding or expand eligibility to all hot foods.
Fetterman pointed to the affordability and popularity of rotisserie chicken, noting that it’s a staple for many families and arguing that allowing SNAP recipients to purchase it would be a practical way to help stretch food budgets.
A similar idea has already surfaced in the House of Representatives, where Congressman Rick Crawford of Arkansas included a provision related to hot rotisserie chicken in a broader farm bill proposal, though it was later removed.
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