When you think about SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), you often picture low-income families receiving government assistance to purchase food each month.
The focus hasn’t been on what foods are bought but rather on the necessity to address obesity levels in the United States. Some states are advocating for a movement called “Make America Healthy Again,” which aims to restrict the purchase of unhealthy items using SNAP benefits.
Recently, Republican governors in Arkansas and Indiana moved to ban soft drinks and candy from SNAP, becoming the first states to request permission from the Trump administration to remove such items from the program, commonly known as food stamps.
According to ABC News, both states are part of a broader initiative to eliminate certain foods that may contribute to poor health, all while the federal program, which spent $100 billion in 2024, serves nearly 42 million Americans. This restriction aligns with the health agenda set forth by political figures Rollins and Kennedy.
SFGate reports that Arkansas’s plan, which will take effect in July 2026, will exclude soda (including no-calorie and low-calorie varieties), fruit and vegetable drinks containing less than 50% natural juice, and various types of candy, including items made with flour like Kit Kat bars and artificially sweetened candy. Interestingly, it will also permit participants to use benefits to buy hot rotisserie chicken, which is currently not allowed.
In Indiana, the changes will similarly exclude candy and soft drinks from the list of foods eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits. Governor Braun has also issued executive orders to alter work requirements for SNAP participants, reinstate income and asset verification rules, and launch a review of improper payments and administrative errors to ensure that SNAP adheres to federal goals.
Should similar restrictions be implemented in other states?
