Six States Gain USDA Approval to Ban Junk Food from SNAP Benefits

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, led by Secretary Brooke Rollins, and the Department of Health and Human Services, led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have announced new waivers that will restrict the purchase of soda, candy, and other high-sugar junk foods through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in six additional states. These waivers, effective in 2026, redefine eligible food purchases under SNAP to promote healthier eating and combat chronic diseases fueled by poor nutrition. The states receiving the waivers are West Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas, bringing the total number of states with such restrictions to twelve. The initiative is part of President Trump's Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) campaign, which emphasizes improving public health and reducing healthcare costs by encouraging better nutrition for SNAP recipients. Agriculture Secretary Rollins and Health Secretary Kennedy have praised the waivers as a critical step toward empowering states and protecting public health by reducing taxpayer-funded purchases of unhealthy foods. This change marks a significant policy shift in how federal food assistance programs manage nutrition and spending.