SNAP junk food ban expands to 6 more states
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Six more states agreed Wednesday to ban the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for junk food under new deals with the Trump administration.
Why it matters: The move expands the Trump administration's use of the federal safety net to expand its Make America Healthy Again agenda. More SNAP recipients will be restricted from buying certain sugary drinks and food.
Driving the news: Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins unveiled the deals with Hawaii, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.
- "We all know we're at the point where we must do something to correct the chronic health problems that Americans face," Rollins said.
- Twelve states previously adopted waiver terms.
- Mehmet Oz, who runs Medicare and Medicaid, said states that ban junk food will get extra funds. "As the six documents here that were signed by Secretary Rollins today would attest, there's a lot of interest in this, you get paid extra money."
Zoom in: The new waivers restrict the purchase of non-nutritious items like soda, energy drinks, certain juices, prepared desserts and candy. Specifics vary by state.
- Most implementation dates are Jan. 1.
- "These waivers are a key step in ensuring that taxpayer dollars provide nutritious options that improve health outcomes within SNAP," the USDA website said.
By the numbers: SNAP served about 42 million people per month in fiscal year 2024, or 12% of U.S. residents, per USDA data.
Catch up quick: Earlier this month, the Trump administration said it would pause aid for Democratic-led states that don't provide the government with identifying information about SNAP recipients such as immigration status.
- The announcement followed millions of recipients in limbo during the longest-ever government shutdown.
Go deeper: SNAP is back, but with work requirements as Trump admin signals major changes
