Agriculture Dept. approves waivers banning candy, soda from SNAP benefits in six states

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Monday announced she has approved waivers in six new state waivers to ban Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries from using the program to purchase junk food like soda and candy.

The waivers come as the Trump administration prioritizes "Making America Healthy Again" by combating the obesity and chronic health crisis in the country. SNAP benefits are intended to help low-income residents cover the costs of groceries but have partly been used in the past on non-healthy items that experts believe have contributed to the rise in obesity and chronic diseases.

The new waivers will go into effect next year and impact residents in Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia. Rollins has already approved waivers for Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska and Utah.

“It is incredible to see so many states take action at this critical moment in our nation’s history and do something to begin to address chronic health problems," Rollins said in a statement. "President [Donald] Trump has changed the status quo, and the entire cabinet is taking action to Make America Healthy Again. At USDA, we play a key role in supporting Americans who fall on hard times, and that commitment does not change. Rather, these state waivers promote healthier options for families in need."

Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also applauded states for taking action to curb the health crises in their states, highlighting the impact that soda and other unhealthy items have had on low-income Americans.

“For years, SNAP has used taxpayer dollars to fund soda and candy—products that fuel America’s diabetes and chronic disease epidemics,” Kennedy said. “These waivers help put real food back at the center of the program and empower states to lead the charge in protecting public health. I thank these governors who have stepped up to request waivers, and I encourage others to follow their lead. This is how we Make America Healthy Again.” 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.