Three Republican-led states are cracking down on junk food in food stamp programs.
Arkansas just became the first to act. On Tuesday, it submitted a waiver to the USDA. The goal: ban soda and candy from SNAP.
Indiana and Idaho say they're following suit. Both plan to request similar changes.
“One-third of our state has diabetes or is pre-diabetic,” said Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “The current system actively encourages and subsidizes unhealthy, highly processed, and addictive products.”
Sanders stood beside USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins. They framed the move as part of a larger health push. Chronic disease, they said, needs bold action.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now HHS Secretary, is also backing the plan. He leads the Make America Healthy Again campaign, which supports cutting junk food from SNAP.
Past USDA administrations blocked similar requests. But Rollins said Trump’s USDA will fast-track the waivers.
Sanders insisted this isn’t about cutting choices for the 350,000 SNAP users in Arkansas. “This is not about taking anything away. This is simply saying taxpayers are no longer going to cover the cost of junk food,” she said.
The waiver targets all sodas, even low-calorie ones, and candy—including flour-based treats. It would last five years, starting in 2026.
Drinks like flavored water, carbonated flavored water, and sports drinks won’t be affected.
Sanders noted the financial toll. Medicaid spends $300 million annually treating chronic diseases in Arkansas.