Technology That Makes Policy Work

Sifter's proprietary platform enables:

• UPC-level product eligibility decisions
• Continuously maintained Restricted Product Lists (RPLs)
• Updates as products are introduced, reformulated, or discontinued
• Retail point-of-sale maintenance files
• Consumer product scanning through the Arkansas SNAP Companion mobile app

Rather than relying on broad product categories, Sifter identifies eligibility at the individual product level—providing retailers and consumers with accurate, up-to-date decisions based on the product's UPC.

The program affects more than 223,000 Arkansas SNAP recipients and represents one of the most significant nutrition policy changes in the country. And Sifter Solutions is the technology partner selected by the Arkansas Department of Human Services to power the product eligibility infrastructure that makes the program work.

Why Arkansas Chose Sifter

According to Steve Goode, Executive Director of the Arkansas Grocers and Retail Merchants Association, "The state initially planned to use a product classification system using data that was not friendly to most association members. After feedback, officials drew up a third-party vendor contract with Chicago-based Sifter Solutions, which was able to get items' Universal Product Code (UPC) data."

As a result, Sifter developed the UPC-level product filtering platform used throughout the state. Goode also noted that: "A categorized list of items was delivered to Arkansas retailers... Point-of-sale companies also had access to the list and worked with stores who were not big enough to do this on their own."

A Platform Built for What's Next

As Food is Medicine programs, medically tailored nutrition benefits, and state-specific nutrition policies continue to expand, organizations will need product intelligence that is accurate, scalable, and continuously maintained.

Sifter's platform already supports:

• SNAP nutrition compliance
• Food is Medicine programs
• GLP-1-friendly product identification
• Personalized nutrition
• Nutrient density scoring
• Product reformulation analysis
• Approved and Restricted Product Lists (APLs/RPLs)

Turning Nutrition Policy into Retail Reality

Arkansas's implementation demonstrates what's possible when policy is supported by accurate UPC-level data and seamless retail integration.

Sifter Solutions is proud to provide the technology platform helping transform nutrition policy into practical, scalable solutions for retailers, manufacturers, healthcare organizations, and government agencies across the United States.

Ready for what's next in Food is Medicine and nutrition compliance?

Let's talk.

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