Republican-led states are leading the charge to ban soda and candy from their food stamp programs, as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement flips traditional partisanship on its head. Colorado is the only blue state to seek and have a soda ban waiver approved, and the only waiver state to propose expanding SNAP benefits in conjunction with limiting its scope. In just the first six months of the new administration, 12 state waivers have been approved by USDA that restrict SNAP recipients from purchasing some combination of soft drinks, sugary beverages, energy drinks, and candy.
Colorado is the only blue state to seek and have a soda ban waiver approved, and the only waiver state to propose expanding SNAP benefits in conjunction with limiting its scope. The idea of policing the shopping carts of low-income Americans has never sat well with anti-hunger advocates, who have argued it is paternalistic and stigmatizing for low-income Americans. Nutrition experts said there is limited evidence that shows SNAP soda bans lead to better health outcomes. There is even less evidence that banning candy and dessert foods from SNAP can positively impact a person’s diet.
The SNAP waivers are for pilot programs only, so they won’t immediately lead to long-term policy changes. Some advocates continue to view the latest push with skepticism. The Foundation for Government Accountability, a conservative think tank based in Florida, is pushing hard for state SNAP waivers.
