Debate over covering soda expenses using food stamps
In a bid to promote healthier food choices, six states have received approval from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to restrict the purchase of sugary drinks with SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. These states include Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois, and the restrictions are part of two-year federal pilot projects with possible extensions.
As of mid-2025, Arkansas has already implemented its ban on soda, energy drinks, candy, and fruit/vegetable drinks with less than 50% natural juice. The other states are planning to start these restrictions on January 1, 2026. The USDA's decision reflects a new approach, allowing states to limit SNAP-eligible items beyond previous federal guidelines.
The impact and response to these restrictions have been mixed. Retailers have expressed concern about regulatory confusion and customer frustration due to variations by state, making SNAP sales more complicated. On the other hand, some political figures, like Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, have vetoed state-level bans on sugary drinks with SNAP benefits, citing implementation challenges. Instead, Governor DeWine opted for working groups to consider healthier food limitations more thoughtfully.
Advocates for SNAP flexibility argue that allowing recipient choice supports health, dignity, and cultural food preferences. They caution that restrictions might reduce these benefits and potentially face pushback.
The average SNAP benefit is $180 a month per person, typically covering about 63% of a person's food budget. It's important to note that the waivers that have been approved so far are legally temporary.
This trend of states restricting sugary drink purchases with SNAP funds is not isolated. At least six other states have proposed similar restrictions. Colorado, the only state under Democratic control, has applied for a waiver to exclude soda from SNAP in 2025 and has also proposed expanding SNAP to cover hot foods from grocery stores like rotisserie chicken or soup.
The recent push to ban soda from SNAP coincides with changes to the program's funding and work requirements. However, some public health and nutrition researchers, like Hilary Seligman, are concerned that state bans on soda in SNAP could increase stigma for low-income individuals.
In conclusion, the trend of states restricting sugary drink purchases with SNAP funds is a growing one, with implementation underway or imminent in several states. The impact includes regulatory challenges for retailers, political debate on effectiveness and fairness, and ongoing evaluation of healthier purchasing incentives within SNAP.
References: 1. USDA Approves Waivers to Exclude Soda from SNAP in Six States 2. The Impact of State-Level SNAP Soda Bans 3. Governor DeWine Vetoes SNAP Soda Ban 4. Colorado Proposes SNAP Changes
- The health-and-wellness sector is actively involved in discussing the impacts of restricting sugary drinks with SNAP benefits, as six states have received approval to implement such restrictions.
- These state-level policies and legislation (policy-and-legislation) are part of a larger trend, with at least six other states considering similar restrictions, reflecting a concern for nutrition within the general-news sphere.
- Despite the intentions behind these restrictions, they have sparked discussion and criticism within the politics (politics) industry, especially concerning regulatory confusion for retailers and potential stigma for low-income individuals.
- Fitness-and-exercise advocates have welcomed these measures as a step towards healthier food choices, but policy-and-legislation experts argue that dismissing SNAP recipient choice may impact their health, dignity, and cultural food preferences.
- Meanwhile, war-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice experts might find it unusual that the focus is shifting from addressing more immediate concerns to discussions about the purchase of sugary drinks with SNAP benefits, highlighting the complexity and breadth of modern policy decisions.
