4 States Request USDA Waivers to Prohibit Soda, Candy Purchases with SNAP Benefits

The Trump administration is ramping up efforts to combat America’s growing public health crisis by supporting state-led initiatives to reform the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In a coordinated push to promote healthier eating habits among low-income Americans, four Republican-led states—Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, and Nebraska—have formally requested waivers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that would allow them to restrict the purchase of certain items with SNAP benefits, including soda, energy drinks, and candy.

This move is in line with the administration’s broader focus on reducing chronic disease and improving national nutrition standards. It also aligns with the views of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, both of whom have been vocal advocates for eliminating unhealthy food and beverage options from government-assisted programs. In a joint USA Today op-ed, Kennedy and Rollins urged governors across the country to take proactive steps to “get junk food out of the SNAP program” and improve nutritional equity, especially in underserved rural areas.

SNAP currently serves over 42 million Americans, making it the largest food assistance initiative in the country. Created in 1964 under the Food Stamp Act and expanded through the decades, the program is federally funded but administered by states. Under current USDA rules, SNAP recipients are prohibited from purchasing alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, supplements, pet food, and hot prepared foods at the point of sale—but there are few restrictions when it comes to processed snacks and sugary drinks. According to a 2016 USDA report, sweetened beverages are the second most commonly purchased item with SNAP benefits, trailing only behind milk.

Arkansas has emerged as a leader in this policy shift. On April 15, 2025, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced the state’s formal waiver request to the USDA. The proposal seeks to remove soda, candy, and even hot rotisserie chicken from the list of SNAP-eligible items. “President Trump and his administration have put a laser focus on solving America’s chronic disease epidemic,” Sanders stated. “Reforming our food stamp program is a great place to start. We can’t continue subsidizing products that contribute directly to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.” Arkansas ranks among the top 10 states for obesity rates, with nearly 37% of adults classified as obese, according to 2023 CDC data.

In Indiana, Governor Mike Braun has signed an executive order directing the state’s Department of Family and Social Services to submit a similar waiver. Braun emphasized that SNAP should be a tool to promote health, not perpetuate the consumption of junk food. “Taxpayer dollars should go to feeding families, not fueling preventable illnesses,” Braun said. The Indiana proposal would prohibit the use of SNAP for sugary beverages and candy, and instead promote the purchase of fresh produce, dairy, and protein-rich foods.

Nebraska’s Governor Jim Pillen has also taken action, sending a formal letter to Secretary Rollins outlining his intent to exclude soda and energy drinks from SNAP purchases. Citing public health statistics and growing rates of childhood obesity, Pillen framed the measure as a necessary step in aligning federal food assistance with basic nutritional standards. The move is especially significant in light of a 2022 Nebraska Department of Health report that found over 32% of children in low-income households were either overweight or obese.

While Iowa’s waiver details remain under wraps, the state legislature has been considering bills for over a year aimed at tightening SNAP eligibility and limiting approved purchases to core nutritional items—such as milk, eggs, meat, vegetables, and whole grains. State lawmakers argue that allowing junk food purchases with SNAP contradicts the program’s intended purpose of supporting nutritional well-being and self-sufficiency.

Kennedy and Rollins, in their joint editorial, cited sobering CDC figures that nearly 1 in 5 children in the U.S. are obese and that diet-related illnesses like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease are increasing rapidly among young Americans. They also criticized the role of special interest groups in shaping dietary policy over the last several decades, blaming lobbying from the sugar, soda, and processed food industries for undermining public health recommendations.

Predictably, the proposals have triggered backlash from industry groups. The American Beverage Association issued a statement on March 24 opposing the waivers, claiming such restrictions would not improve health outcomes and would place undue regulatory pressure on retailers. “These proposals are shortsighted and won’t make anyone healthier or save taxpayer dollars,” the group said. “They may also hurt military veterans, seniors, and families who rely on the convenience of these items.”

Similarly, the National Confectioners Association criticized the movement as “misguided,” arguing that candy and chocolate are considered occasional indulgences, not staples, by most Americans—regardless of income status. “SNAP participants understand moderation,” the association said in its rebuttal. “Singling out specific foods demonizes consumers and creates a stigma.”

Grocery store owners and retail associations have also voiced concern, warning that new rules could complicate the point-of-sale systems and burden small businesses that accept SNAP. Implementation would likely require significant software upgrades and training, adding logistical and financial strain to already tight profit margins.

Nevertheless, the push for reform has gained momentum in conservative circles and among public health advocates who argue that the long-term costs of obesity-related illnesses far outweigh the short-term inconvenience of implementing stricter food guidelines. A 2021 analysis from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimated that diet-related chronic conditions cost the U.S. healthcare system over $170 billion annually.

While the USDA has acknowledged receipt of the waiver requests, the agency has not yet made a public decision. A spokesperson confirmed that the proposals are under review and that responses would follow standard administrative procedures, including possible public comment periods.

Major media outlets including Fox News, The New York Post, and Politico have reported on the unfolding situation, as the political, health, and economic stakes continue to escalate. Supporters of the initiative hope it will mark the beginning of a broader realignment of federal nutrition programs to better reflect modern science and public health priorities.