Several U.S. states are taking unprecedented steps to reshape the nation’s largest food assistance program, with Arkansas and Indiana leading a new push to ban the purchase of candy and soft drinks using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The move, announced Tuesday, marks the first time states have formally requested federal permission to exclude these items from SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, in an effort to promote healthier eating and address chronic health issues among low-income Americans.
Arkansas and Indiana Lead the Charge
At a press conference in Little Rock, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, flanked by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, unveiled a proposal that would bar SNAP recipients from buying sodas—both regular and low-calorie—fruit and vegetable drinks with less than 50% natural juice, candy (including flour-based confections like Kit Kat bars), and artificially sweetened treats. The plan, set to take effect in July 2026 if approved, would also allow SNAP users to purchase hot rotisserie chicken, which is currently excluded from the program.
“The existing system evidently promotes and subsidizes the excessive consumption of unhealthy, heavily processed, and addictive foods and drinks,” Sanders said. “Taxpayers are funding poor health. We are paying for it upfront and on the back end”.
In Indiana, Governor Mike Braun, joined by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Director Dr. Mehmet Oz, announced a similar waiver request. Braun’s reforms go further, including new work requirements and reinstating income and asset checks for SNAP recipients. “To safeguard our nation against infectious diseases, we must prioritize making people healthy again,” Kennedy said at the event, emphasizing the broader “Make America Healthy Again” campaign.
A National Movement Gains Momentum
These actions are part of a broader trend, with nearly a dozen states considering similar restrictions. Idaho, for example, recently passed legislation requiring the state to seek a waiver to ban soda and candy from SNAP. The federal SNAP program distributed $100 billion in benefits to 42 million Americans in 2024, making any changes to its rules highly consequential.
Supporters argue that the reforms are necessary to combat rising rates of chronic disease and obesity, particularly among children. “They have transformed our food system in this country into something detrimental to our health. A strong nation cannot exist without a healthy populace,” Kennedy said.
Critics Warn of Overreach and Stigma
The proposals have drawn sharp criticism from anti-hunger advocates and the food and beverage industry. Groups representing candy and soda makers argue that the bans unfairly target low-income families and lack evidence that SNAP recipients purchase more junk food than other Americans. American Beverage, an industry group, called the Arkansas plan “disappointing,” saying, “Nearly 80% of families on SNAP work, they just don’t make enough to make ends meet. Low-income working families were promised a new, better era and not to be left behind again. Instead, they’re being denigrated and treated like second-class citizens”.
Some public health experts and Democrats have supported the restrictions, citing the link between sugary foods and health problems, while others warn that such policies could further stigmatize SNAP recipients and restrict personal choice.
What’s Next?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) must approve the waivers before the bans can take effect. The outcome could set a precedent for other states and reshape the debate over the role of government in influencing Americans’ diets through public assistance programs.
As the nation watches, Arkansas and Indiana’s bold experiment may soon redefine what it means to put healthy food on the table for millions of Americans.