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Arkansas and Indiana Consider Ban on Soda and Candy for SNAP Benefits
Arkansas and Indiana are poised to potentially become the first states in the United States to prohibit the purchase of soda and candy using food stamps, a federal program designed to assist low-income individuals and families in affording groceries. Republican governors in both states have formally requested the Trump Administration to remove these items from the list of eligible food products under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Controversial Measure Aims to Enhance Public Health
This contentious action is intended to improve the well-being of the numerous residents in Arkansas and Indiana who depend on food stamps for nutritional assistance. The proposed changes target sugary and high-calorie treats, extending to include diet sodas and fruit juices containing less than 50 percent natural juice.
Federal Push for Healthier SNAP Guidelines
Restricting access to less nutritious food items within the $100 billion annual federal SNAP program has long been a priority for health advocate Robert F Kennedy Jr and his ‘Make America Healthy Again’ initiative.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders stated on Tuesday that ‘taxpayers are subsidizing poor health,’ emphasizing the financial burden on the public health system. ‘We’re paying for it on the front end and the back end,’ she added.
Indiana Governor Joins Health Advocates in Support
In Indianapolis, Indiana Governor Mike Braun, alongside Kennedy and Dr. Mehmet Oz, a prominent figure in health and wellness and head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, voiced his support for the proposed modifications.
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Governor Braun asserted that these comprehensive revisions would ‘put the focus back on nutrition — not candy and soft drinks,’ highlighting the intention to shift SNAP purchases towards healthier options.
Details of the Proposed SNAP Restrictions
Under Indiana’s proposal, confectionery and soft drinks would be removed from the list of food items permissible for purchase with SNAP benefits.
Arkansas’ plan, potentially taking effect in July 2026, is more extensive than Indiana’s. It aims to prohibit SNAP coverage for:
- Soda, including sugar-free and reduced-calorie versions
- Fruit and vegetable beverages with less than 50 percent real juice
- ‘Unhealthy drinks’
- Candy, encompassing flour-based confections like Kit Kat bars
- Artificially sweetened candies
Conversely, Arkansas’ initiative would expand SNAP coverage to include hot rotisserie chicken, which was previously ineligible.
Governor Braun has also implemented executive orders modifying work requirements for SNAP recipients and reinstating regulations mandating participants to disclose income and asset details.
Concerns Over Current SNAP Guidelines
Kennedy criticized the existing SNAP guidelines, asserting, ‘They changed our food system in this country so that it is poison to us.’
He further emphasized the link between national strength and public health: ‘We can’t be a strong nation if we are not a strong people.’
SNAP Program’s Reach and Scope
In 2024, SNAP provided assistance to nearly 42 million Americans. The program enables low-income households to acquire essential food items such as fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy, bread, cereals, snack foods, and plants for food production.
Administered by the USDA through individual states, SNAP benefits are generally accessible to households with a gross income at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level, approximately $33,500 annually for a family of three.
Historical Attempts to Modify SNAP Food Eligibility
Over the past two decades, several states’ lawmakers have proposed restricting SNAP benefits from being used for items like soda, potato chips, ice cream, ‘luxury meats’ such as steak, bottled water, and decorated birthday cakes.
Since 2004, there have been six previous waiver requests to modify SNAP food eligibility. Of these, four were rejected, one was withdrawn, and one was deemed incomplete by the USDA.
USDA’s Stance on Food Restrictions
Regarding past rejected waiver applications, the USDA stated the lack of a clear standard for defining ‘unhealthy’ foods. They also raised concerns that such restrictions would be complex, expensive to implement, and potentially ineffective in altering purchasing habits or improving public health.
Opposition from Anti-Hunger Advocacy Groups
Organizations dedicated to combating hunger oppose SNAP food limitations. They cite research indicating that SNAP beneficiaries are no more inclined to purchase sugary drinks or snack foods than other low-income individuals.
Critics also argue that restricting food choices infringes upon the autonomy of SNAP recipients, who receive an average benefit of approximately $187 per month, or about $6.20 daily.
Gina Plata-Nino, a deputy director at the Food Research and Action Center, a non-profit advocacy organization, stated, ‘They just seem to be targeting a specific population without having data that says that they are the issue or that this is going to improve,’ expressing concerns about the evidence base for these restrictions.
Industry Criticism of Proposed Bans
Trade associations representing beverage and candy manufacturers have voiced disapproval of the proposed measures, arguing that they disproportionately target SNAP participants.
Representatives from the American Beverage Association accused state and federal officials of acting as ‘food police’ instead of focusing on ‘truly meaningful steps to lift people off SNAP with good-paying jobs.’
Chris Gindlesperger, spokesperson for the National Confectioners Association, described the approach as ‘misguided.’
Gindlesperger contended, ‘SNAP participants and non-SNAP participants alike understand that chocolate and candy are treats – not meal replacements,’ questioning the rationale behind the proposed ban.