Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced a major step to restrict junk food purchases under SNAP benefits, saying taxpayers shouldn’t fund sugary drinks and candy for low-income families.
Key Facts:
- HHS Secretary RFK Jr. aims to prevent SNAP funds from being used on sugary drinks and junk food starting in 2026.
- Six new state waivers—West Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas—will redefine “food” under SNAP.
- Kennedy claims 13–17% of daily SNAP spending (about $405M/day) goes toward sugary drinks and candy.
- He is working with Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins on new, simplified dietary guidelines.
- Kennedy emphasizes he won’t take food away but believes unhealthy food shouldn’t be subsidized by taxpayers.
The Rest of The Story:
RFK Jr., alongside FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, announced new changes to how states define allowable SNAP purchases.
Under newly signed state waivers, SNAP funds will no longer cover popular junk foods such as sugary sodas beginning in 2026.
Six states—West Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas—have signed on to the change, joining others like Nebraska and Utah who adopted similar policies earlier.
According to Kennedy, SNAP is currently spending over $40 million daily on sugary drinks alone.
“If you want to buy a sugary soda — you ought to be able to do that — the U.S. taxpayer should not pay for it,” Kennedy said.
He added that it was unacceptable for public funds to contribute to long-term health problems like diabetes, only to have government programs like Medicaid and Medicare foot the bill later.
Kennedy is also leading an overhaul of the federal dietary guidelines.
He criticized the current 453-page guidelines inherited from the Biden administration, saying they are “incomprehensible” and influenced by corporate interests.
New guidelines will be short, clear, and focused on helping people make healthier choices.
During his confirmation hearing, Kennedy outlined a broader strategy to fight chronic disease.
He said government food programs like SNAP and school lunches should shift away from processed foods and emphasized the need for “outcome-based medicine” where people take responsibility for their health decisions.
🚨 BREAKING: Secretary RFK Jr. is now taking action to fully ban FOOD STAMPS from being used for obtaining SODA.
"If you want to buy a sugary soda – the U.S. taxpayer should not pay for it. The U.S. taxpayer should not be paying to feed kids foods, the poorest kids in the… pic.twitter.com/JElCFvxS3m
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 4, 2025
Commentary:
This is a step in the right direction.
SNAP was never meant to be a junk food subsidy. It was created to serve as a safety net—to provide essential nutrition for struggling families.
Using taxpayer dollars to fund soda and candy undermines both public health and fiscal responsibility.
If someone wants to buy soda or chips, that’s their business. But that choice should come out of their own pocket, not yours or mine.
There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a treat now and then, but there’s a big difference between freedom to choose and asking taxpayers to finance poor decisions.
Kennedy’s plan isn’t about control—it’s about accountability.
He’s made it clear that no one’s food is being taken away. People can still buy Twinkies, burgers, or energy drinks.
But if they’re using SNAP dollars, the only options should be nutritious, minimally processed foods that support good health.
This is especially important for the children impacted by these programs.
Why should America’s poorest kids be handed the worst food choices—only to end up battling obesity, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses before they even reach adulthood?
Kennedy is also tackling another problem long overdue for reform: dietary guidelines that are bloated, biased, and too complex for the average person to follow.
His goal of short, clear, common-sense guidance is exactly what America needs.
There’s no reason food funded by the taxpayer shouldn’t meet basic standards for health.
For decades, big food corporations have influenced these programs with lobbying, pushing processed foods into the bellies of children and families. That cycle needs to be broken.
It’s refreshing to see a federal official stand up and say what most Americans already know: personal freedom does not mean public funding for personal indulgence.
Let’s use our tax dollars to support health—not hurt it.
The Bottom Line:
RFK Jr. is pushing to reform SNAP by removing junk food from the list of taxpayer-funded purchases.
His goal is to promote healthier choices, reduce chronic disease, and cut long-term medical costs driven by poor nutrition.
States are joining the effort, and new dietary guidelines are in the works.
This could be the beginning of a long-overdue shift in how government handles food and public health.
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