These are the states looking to prohibit SNAP beneficiaries from purchasing soda

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formally known as food stamps, is one of the largest welfare programs in the US. More than 42 million people, around 12.5 percent of the population, benefit from SNAP.

To qualify for SNAP, individuals or families must qualify, and the criteria are based on household income. Those enrolled in the program receive an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card that functions like a debit card that can only be used at the grocery store, with limits on what can be purchased.

There are items that cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits, and that category is expanding under President Trump.

Soda becomes the latest target

The Trump administration has floated new rules to exclude certain beverages from SNAP eligibility and is encouraging states to enact these rules. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, has signaled that he will provide waivers to states that wish to prohibit the purchase of soda using SNAP benefits. Since the states administer SNAP, they have the right to make some changes to the program, including the payment schedule and eligibility requirements, so long as they do not conflict with those set by the federal government.

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen (R) became the first state leader to send a letter to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to notify the agency of the state’s decision to “pursue an exemption from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), eliminating sodas and energy drinks from SNAP-eligible purchases.”

While the exemption request is still subject to approval, currently, no state has exemptions that restrict food purchases based on nutritional value. However, this could change, as legislators in Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia are considering following Nebraska’s steps.

Soda becomes an easy target because of its high sugar content. However, food rights groups note that soda consumption is similar among SNAP and non-SNAP households and that not allowing SNAP beneficiaries to purchase soda is paternalistic. In light of the news, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics released a statement affirming the organization’s commitment to “strengthening SNAP.” Still, they urged the government to consider improvements that support the “individual choice” of beneficiaries.

“While improving dietary quality within SNAP is a shared objective, imposing restrictions without addressing broader systemic barriers is unlikely to achieve meaningful public health improvements and may harm the individuals the program is designed to support,” the Academy earlier this year when the plans were announced.

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