The Trump Administration has continued to notch major wins as the first months of the new administration roll on, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is notching his share of wins alongside his colleagues in the administration. In fact, he has now started scoring wins all over the nation in his bid to ensure food stamps are used for healthy food rather than junk.
As background, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is operated by the states but is funded by the federal government. As such, there is a complex interplay between the states and HHS over what technically qualifies as food under the program, and thus can be purchased with the taxpayer-funded vouchers.
So, which Secretary Kennedy is unable to ban the purchase of sugary soda, junk snacks, and candy, as he has indicated he would like to do, he can encourage states to apply to do so and then help them make that change. He has scored a series of wins on that front, as now twelve states total have moved to ban purchases of such junk with SNAP stamps.
In order to make that change, they need to get waivers from the federal government to amend the statutory definition of food eligible for purchase under SNAP, and in so doing they can block the purchases of junk food with food stamps. Most recently, waivers allowing that amendment were granted to West Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. Earlier, similar waivers were granted to Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, Arkansas, Idaho and Utah.
All in all, that means the total number of states that have sought and obtained waivers related to SNAP and junk food is up to 12. All twelve will restrict the purchase of sugary drinks like soda. Eight of them will ban candy purchases, and at least three will explicitly ban energy drinks. Some might also ban supposed fruit juice that contains less than 50% real juice.
Commenting on the move, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said, “For years, SNAP has used taxpayer dollars to fund soda and candy, products that fuel America’s diabetes and chronic disease epidemics.” He added, “These waivers help put real food back at the center of the program and empower states to lead the charge in protecting public health.”
Similarly, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins praised the move as being one that would help Make America Healthy Again by addressing the crisis of widespread, chronic diseases related to the food often eaten in America. She said, “It is incredible to see so many states take action at this critical moment in our nation’s history and do something to begin to address chronic health problems.”
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Further, Rollins added that the changes made by the states would help push Americans toward making healthier food decisions. She said, “President Trump has changed the status quo, and the entire Cabinet is taking action to Make America Healthy Again. … These state waivers promote healthier options for families in need.”
Watch Secretary Rollins comment on the waivers here:
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video