Beginning Wednesday, Hawai'i's Food Stamp Program will be known officially as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

The state Department of Human Services says the change is in keeping with the new federal name for the U.S. Department of Agriculture program, required by the 2008 Farm Bill.

State officials say the new name reflects the importance of making healthy meals available to low-income households.

They say the new name also reflects the fact that food "stamps" have not been issued in Hawai'i since 1998. Instead, clients purchase groceries using an Electronic Benefit Transfer card, which looks like a credit or debit card.

About 101,655 island residents are enrolled in SNAP.