Twelve states have now been approved to cut soda and candy from food stamp purchases under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), marking a major shift toward healthier standards under President Donald Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Monday that six additional states — West Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas — have received federal waivers allowing them to restrict the use of SNAP benefits for sugary drinks and candy. They join six other states already taking action: Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, and Utah.
The reforms follow Trump’s appointment of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has made it a top priority to eliminate taxpayer-subsidized junk food from federal nutrition programs. Since January, the administration has made swift moves to align SNAP policy with broader public health goals.
“We are spending $405 million a day on SNAP and about 10% is going to sugary drinks,” Kennedy said Tuesday. “If you add candies to that, it’s about 13 to 17 percent.” He called the situation “completely unsustainable” and said the government should stop funding foods that are directly contributing to the country’s diabetes and obesity crisis.
“You want to buy a sugary soda, you can. That’s your choice as an American. But the U.S. taxpayer shouldn’t be forced to foot the bill,” Kennedy added. “We should not be paying to feed the poorest kids in the country food that will give them diabetes.”
The 12 states making cuts have outlined their plans as follows:
Arkansas: Cuts begin July 2026, banning soda, low-juice drinks, candy, and other sugary beverages.
Colorado: Will restrict soft drinks from SNAP purchases by March 2026.
Florida: Set to block soda, energy drinks, candy, and prepared desserts by January 2026.
Idaho: Soda and candy will be off-limits by January 2026.
Indiana: Soft drinks and candy banned from SNAP by January 2026.
Iowa: SNAP will no longer cover taxable food items like candy and soda by January 2026.
Louisiana: Soft drinks, energy drinks, and candy banned by January 15, 2026.
Nebraska: Energy drinks and soda eliminated from SNAP by January 2026.
Oklahoma: Soft drinks and candy cut out by January 2026.
Texas: By April 2026, all sweetened drinks and candy will be off the list.
Utah: Soft drinks banned from SNAP purchases by January 2026.
West Virginia: Soda will be restricted by January 2026.
The Trump administration’s push is part of a broader effort to overhaul government nutrition standards and reduce dependency on welfare programs that, critics say, have been fueling long-term health problems among low-income Americans.
Supporters of the move argue it’s about basic common sense. “Taxpayers shouldn’t be subsidizing Coke and Snickers,” one senior Trump health official noted. “We’re not saying people can’t buy it — we’re saying we shouldn’t be forced to pay for it.”
The White House has also floated possible reforms to school lunch programs and other federal nutrition initiatives as part of a larger anti-obesity effort. The momentum behind MAHA — “Make America Healthy Again” — is accelerating, with RFK Jr. and Rollins at the forefront, laying the groundwork for the most significant food policy shift in decades.
? BREAKING: Secretary RFK Jr. says he is officially moving to BAN food stamps from being used for soda
FINALLY!
“The U.S. Taxpayer should NOT be paying to feed the poorest kids in the country food that will give them diabetes.”
“We are spending $405 MILLION a day on SNAP..… pic.twitter.com/jjsmZ8DrGE
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 4, 2025
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