Six more states were granted waivers from the Department of Agriculture to prohibit Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits, or SNAP, from being used on certain processed food and beverages. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the assistance is meant to provide "health food" for low-income families. He cited foods like soda and candy as "products that fuel America's diabetes and chronic disease epidemics." "Our department has encouraged states to think differently and creatively about how to solve the many health issues facing Americans," Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. Earlier this month, Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Colorado and West Virginia were granted new waivers to restrict the purchase of so-called "junk food" with SNAP benefits starting in 2026.
They join six other states, Arkansas, Idaho, Utah, Nebraska, Indiana, and Utah, that have already received the waivers.
"The U.S. taxpayers should not be paying to feed kids foods, the poorest kids in our country, with foods that are gonna give them diabetes," Kennedy said.
Of the states that have been granted waivers so far, most will restrict the use of SNAP funds on soft drinks or sodas. While at least eight restrict candy purchases.
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