Imagine going to the grocery store and finding out you can no longer buy a bottle of soda or a chocolate bar with your food stamps.
That could soon be the reality in Arkansas and Indiana, where lawmakers are pushing to overhaul how the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) works.
Both states are leading the charge to eliminate sugary snacks and drinks from the list of approved items that SNAP participants can purchase.
Their goal? To steer low-income residents toward healthier food choices—and in the long run, reduce diet-related illnesses and healthcare costs.
The Push for Healthier Choices
Governors Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas and Mike Braun of Indiana have officially asked the Trump Administration to approve the changes.
They want to block SNAP recipients from buying candy, soda, and other high-sugar foods using their benefits.
Even diet sodas and juice drinks with less than 50% real juice would be banned.
The motivation behind the proposal is clear: improving public health.
Governor Sanders didn’t hold back, saying, “Taxpayers are subsidizing poor health. We’re paying for it on the front end and the back end.”
What Exactly Would Be Banned?
In Arkansas, the proposed changes go beyond just regular soda and candy.
The state’s plan—potentially kicking in by July 2026—would make the following items ineligible under SNAP:
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Soda, including diet and low-calorie versions
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Juice drinks with less than 50% natural juice
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“Unhealthy beverages”
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All candy, even those made with flour like Kit Kats
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Artificially sweetened treats
Interestingly, the proposal would add hot rotisserie chicken to the list of approved SNAP foods—something that had been excluded before.
A National Health Push with Political Backing
This shift aligns with a broader national health campaign led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., dubbed “Make America Healthy Again.”
He’s been vocal about the need to reshape the American diet, especially for those relying on federal assistance.
In Indiana, Kennedy stood alongside Governor Braun and Dr. Mehmet Oz—who now leads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services—to show united support for the changes.
Braun emphasized that the reform is about “putting the focus back on nutrition—not candy and soft drinks.”
SNAP Work Requirements Also Tightened
Governor Braun didn’t stop with food restrictions. He also signed executive orders tightening work requirements for SNAP participants and reinstated income and asset reporting mandates.
It’s all part of a broader strategy to encourage self-sufficiency and reduce long-term dependency on government aid.
Kennedy took it a step further, slamming the current state of the U.S. food system.
“They’ve changed our food system in this country so that it is poison to us,” he said. “We can’t be a strong nation if we are not a strong people.”
Who Uses SNAP, and What Does It Cover?
In 2024, SNAP provided food assistance to nearly 42 million Americans.
Funded by the USDA and managed at the state level, the program allows eligible low-income households to buy items like fruits, veggies, meat, dairy, and grains.
In general, families qualify if their income is under 130% of the federal poverty line—roughly $33,500 for a family of three.
Over the years, lawmakers across the country have floated similar ideas—trying to ban purchases of soda, chips, ice cream, and even “luxury” items like steak.
But so far, efforts to make these restrictions stick haven’t been successful.
Why It’s a Tough Sell
The USDA has turned down several requests to limit SNAP food choices, arguing it’s difficult to define what qualifies as “unhealthy.”
Officials also worry the restrictions could be expensive to enforce and may not actually change eating habits or improve health outcomes.
Anti-hunger advocates are pushing back hard. Groups like the Food Research and Action Center argue that SNAP recipients are no more likely to buy junk food than other low-income Americans.
They say it’s unfair to restrict what people can buy with their benefits—especially when they’re only getting about $187 per month (or roughly $6.20 per day).
Critics Say It’s About Control, Not Health
Opponents from the food and beverage industry are also speaking out.
Trade groups representing soda and candy companies claim the changes unfairly single out SNAP participants.
They argue that instead of policing shopping carts, officials should focus on creating better-paying jobs to help people move off food assistance altogether.
Chris Gindlesperger of the National Confectioners Association called the proposal “misguided.”
He pointed out that “SNAP participants and non-SNAP participants alike understand that chocolate and candy are treats—not meal replacements.”
What’s Next?
With official waiver requests now in front of the USDA, all eyes are on whether the federal government will greenlight the changes.
If Arkansas and Indiana get their way, it could set a precedent for other states to follow suit—and spark a national debate on health, food access, and personal freedom.
One thing’s for sure: the conversation around what’s “allowed” in the grocery aisles for SNAP users is only just heating up.