More states are jumping on the “Make America Healthy Again” bandwagon by starting to limit what can be possible purchased with food stamps.
The goal is for recipients to picky healthier food options and steer away from less healthy choices. This includes cutting out cutting out sugary drinks and candy, per the Daily Wire.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins OK’d waivers for more six states — West Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas — that asked for limits to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) spending.
Now, there are 12 states ready to impose limits to food stamps.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., head of Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), said taxpayers should not fund unhealthy foods like soda and candy. This adds to the obesity epidemic in the U.S., he said.
“We are spending $405 million a day on SNAP and about 10% is going to sugary drinks, and if you add candies to that, it’s about 13-17%,” Kennedy said.
“We all believe in free choice. We live in a democracy — people can make their own choice about what they are going to buy and what they are not going to buy,” he added. “If you want to buy a sugary soda, you should be able to do that, but the U.S. taxpayer should not pay for it.”
“U.S. taxpayers should not be paying to feed the poorest kids in the country food that will give them diabetes,” Kennedy added.
The restrictions take effect at various times next year.
The restrictions and dates are as follows:
Arkansas: Soda, fruit and vegetable drinks with less than 50% natural juice, other unhealthy drinks, and candy. July 2026.
Colorado: Soft drink purchases. March 2026.
Florida: Soda, energy drinks, candy, and prepared desserts. January 2026.
Idaho: Soda and candy. January 2026.
Indiana: Soft drinks and candy. January 2026.
Iowa: Taxable food items in the state, which will include most candy, soft drinks, and prepared foods. January 2026.
Louisiana: Soft drinks, energy drinks, and candy. Target date of Jan. 15, 2026.
Nebraska: Soda and energy drinks. January 2026.
Oklahoma: Soft drinks and candy. January 2026.
Texas: Sweetened drinks and candy. April 2026.
Utah: Soft drinks. January 2026.
West Virginia: Soda. January 2026.
