OAN Staff Katherine Mosack
11:15 AM – Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Americans in five states who receive government help to pay for groceries will soon see new restrictions on soda, candy and other food items deemed unhealthy.
On Thursday, January 1st, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah and West Virginia are implementing waivers that restrict the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to buy unhealthy groceries.
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins have urged states to block foods deemed unhealthy from being covered by taxpayer funds. This is part of Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” efforts.
SNAP, also known as food stamps, is a $100 billion federal program that serves 42 million Americans.
“We cannot continue a system that forces taxpayers to fund programs that make people sick and then pay a second time to treat the illnesses those very programs help create,” Kennedy said in a statement in December.
In the spring, Kennedy argued that the restrictions on SNAP coverage are not meant to ban sugary foods altogether.
“Every American who wants to eat a donut ought to be able to eat it or drink a Coke,” Kennedy said in a Forbes interview, “But the federal taxpayer should not be paying to poison our children. And we’re going to end that.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a statement about the upcoming changes, showing a map of the 18 states with approved waivers.
“The Trump Administration is leading bold reform to strengthen integrity and restore nutritional value within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in a statement about the upcoming changes.
“USDA is empowering states with greater flexibility to manage their programs by approving SNAP Food Restriction Waivers that restrict the purchase of non-nutritious items like soda and candy,” the statement continued.
The remaining 13 states, which will make changes later in the year, are Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
Critics warn that the move will create longer lines in grocery stores and confusion over what may or may not be covered by food stamps without improving health outcomes for recipients.
Indiana’s Family and Social Services Administration released a statement defining what the state regards as candy and soft drinks after Governor Mike Braun (R-Ind.) signed an executive order called “Making Indiana Healthy Again by Enhancing Nutrition in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program” in April.
Candy is defined as “A preparation of sugar, honey, or other natural or artificial sweeteners in combination with chocolate, fruits, nuts, or other ingredients or flavorings in the form of bars, drops, or pieces. The term does not include any preparation requiring refrigeration.”
Soft drinks are defined as “Non-alcoholic beverages that contain natural or artificial sweeteners. The term does not include beverages that contain milk or milk products, soy, rice, or similar milk substitutes, or are exclusively naturally sweetened using natural vegetable and/or fruit juice.”
Iowa issues a frequently asked questions sheet regarding the changes, explaining the state’s reasoning:
“With this change, SNAP benefits will be directed toward the foods that promote good nutrition, like fruits, vegetables, and proteins, and away from foods like pop and candy,” said Iowa’s Health and Human Services office.
The sheet also clarified that “all Iowans must adhere to this rule,” and that this does not bar recipients from buying restricted items with their own money.
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