6 more states approved for waivers to remove unhealthy foods from SNAP benefits
Six more states have joined the growing list across the country approved for Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program food-choice waivers that will prevent benefits from being used on certain processed foods and drinks.
On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the approval for Hawai'i, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee to "amend the statutory definition of 'food for purchase'" under the federal program in 2026.
This brings the list of states approved for SNAP food-choice waivers under the Make America Healthy Again initiative up to 18.
These waivers allow states to amend what the food assistance benefits -- colloquially referred to as food stamps -- can be used for at the grocery store by beneficiaries.
"President Trump has made it clear: we are restoring SNAP to its true purpose -- nutrition. Under the MAHA initiative, we are taking bold, historic steps to reverse the chronic diseases epidemic that has taken root in this country for far too long," Rollins said in the announcement.
"America’s governors are answering that call with courage and innovation, offering solutions that honor the generosity of the taxpayer while helping families live longer, healthier lives. With these new waivers, we are empowering states to lead, protecting our children from the dangers of highly-processed foods, and moving one step closer to the President’s promise to Make America Healthy Again," Rollins added.
RFK Jr. thanked the governors of the 18 states who he said "are leading the charge on SNAP reform to restore the health of Americans -- especially our kids."
"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," he said.
In August, Rollins and Health and RFK Jr. announced restrictions on the purchase of so-called "junk food" with SNAP funds in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Colorado, Florida and West Virginia starting in 2026.
Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska and Utah were granted waivers for SNAP reform earlier this year.
On her first day in office, Rollins announced a "Laboratories of Innovation" initiative encouraging governors to put forth "state-driven solutions to strengthen federal nutrition programs and protect taxpayer resources," the USDA stated.
What is SNAP?
The program issues electronic benefits that can be used like cash to purchase food. It is run by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, which administers federal food assistance programs.
"SNAP helps low-income working people, senior citizens, the disabled and others feed their families," the USDA states on its website. "Eligibility and benefit levels are based on household size, income and other factors."
On average, according to USDA data, SNAP served 42.1 million people per month in 2023, which accounts for more than 12.5% of the population.
What foods and beverages are restricted by the waivers?
Of the states that have been granted SNAP waivers so far, most will restrict the use of SNAP funds on purchases of soft drinks or sodas, and at least eight restrict the use of SNAP funds on candy purchases. Some also prohibit food benefits from being used on purchases of energy drinks and, in Arkansas, the purchase of "fruit and vegetable drinks with less than 50% natural juice."
The new restrictions will go into effect in 2026. Click here for a full list of prohibited items and links for additional state information.
While all of this is being done under the banner of "making America healthy again" and fighting chronic disease, ABC News medical correspondent Dr. Darien Sutton said, "there's no evidence that taking away access to soda will actually fight these conditions."
He noted, however, that "sugar is one of those culprits that you always have to be mindful of" regardless.
"The U.S. dietary guidelines recommend that men have no more than 35 grams and women no more than 25 grams per day," Sutton said, per the American Heart Association dietary guidelines.
