RFK Jr. says he's working to stop people from using food stamps to buy soda and candy

There’s a growing call to restrict junk food purchases by SNAP users, but experts say it’s complex

Efforts to keep junk foods from being paid for by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, are increasing at the federal and state level. Lawmakers proposing such bills say they want to encourage healthy habits, but some food advocates say the restrictions would have harmful effects.

FACT BRIEF: Did Gov. Katie Hobbs veto a bill that aimed to ban the use of SNAP benefits to buy soda?

Did Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs veto a bill that sought to ban the use of SNAP benefits to buy soda? is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting. Yes. In April, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a bill that sought to prohibit people from using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits — commonly known as food stamps — to purchase soda. …

Gov. Landry signs order to ban buying soda, candy with SNAP benefits

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed an executive order Thursday to ban the purchase of soft drinks and candy using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits while pushing for state and federal legislation. Landry directs the secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to submit a waiver request to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to exclude the purchase o…

Bill to clean up school meals, restrict sugary drinks in SNAP moves forward

A bill that proposes to bring the Make America Healthy Again movement to Louisiana went before a packed Senate Health and Welfare Committee Wednesday, which ultimately advanced the bill out of committee and to the full Senate.

Louisiana looks to RFK Jr. for school lunch guidelines, limits on SNAP purchases      • Louisiana Illuminator

Sen. Patrick McMath looks ahead from his desk in the Senate Chamber. (Allison Allsop/Louisiana Illuminator)Louisiana lawmakers advanced sweeping nutrition legislation that would regulate purchases of sugary beverages with federal food assistance and limit what ingredients can be served in public school school lunches.  Senate Bill 14 by Sen. Patrick McMath, R-Covington, cleared the Louisiana Senate Committee of Health and Welfare on a party-line…

Should Unhealthful Foods Be Excluded from SNAP?

In a recent opinion column in the Wall Street Journal, Allysia Finley argues that beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ought not be allowed to use their SNAP benefits to purchase candy and sugary sodas: “… such ultraprocessed foods … aren’t good for you. Why should government pay for them?” In a letter to the editor, I argued that Finley’s argument would yield a massive slippery-slope problem: If it is acceptable for go…