CITIZENS NEWS

RFK Jr. urges governors to ban SUGARY DRINKS from food stamps

By avagrace // 2025-06-15

• Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urges all 50 governors to remove sugary drinks from SNAP (food stamps), citing taxpayer subsidies for products linked to obesity and diabetes.
• Arkansas, Idaho and Utah join Indiana, Iowa and Nebraska in banning soda and candy purchases for SNAP recipients, with Arkansas' rules taking effect in 2026.
• The American Beverage Association criticizes the bans as ineffective "food policing," noting declining soda consumption hasn’t lowered obesity rates and advocating for education instead.
• Experts agree sugary drinks harm health but disagree on bans. Some argue for affordability and access improvements, while recipients like single mother Natalie Kiyah emphasize dignity in choice.
• Researchers propose incentivizing healthy purchases (e.g., extra funds for produce) rather than restrictions, highlighting SNAP’s role in reducing hunger but not improving nutrition.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is calling on all 50 governors to remove sugary drinks from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). He issued this call on Monday, June 10, arguing that taxpayer dollars should not subsidize products linked to chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes. Kennedy's campaign aligns with the Trump administration's Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative, which seeks to combat rising chronic illnesses. Formerly known as food stamps, SNAP provides low-income families with monthly funds via debit-like cards for groceries. Alcohol, tobacco and hot prepared foods are excluded from SNAP purchases – and now, the administration wants sugary drinks added to the banned list. (Related: Trump administration approves waivers to ban junk food from SNAP.) Kennedy's statement, backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), followed Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins approving waivers restricting soda and candy purchases for SNAP recipients in Arkansas, Idaho and Utah. Under the new waivers, Arkansas will block purchases of soda, low-calorie sodas, fruit drinks with less than 50 percent real juice and candy starting in 2026. Idaho and Utah will ban soda and candy, respectively. Kennedy praised the governors for their "unwavering commitment" to public health, framing the restrictions as fiscal responsibility. The three states joined Indiana, Iowa and Nebraska in tightening SNAP rules. Critics decried the move as government overreach, while supporters hailed it as a necessary step to improve public health.

"Food police" or necessary reform?

The American Beverage Association (ABA) slammed the policy as hypocritical and ineffective. It accused Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders of playing "food police" in a statement, noting that SNAP still allows purchases of snack cakes and desserts. According to the industry group, beverage companies have already reduced calories per serving by 42 percent and that 60 percent of drinks sold today are sugar-free. "Obesity rates climbed while soda consumption fell," it pointed out. The ABA ultimately suggested that the focus should be on education, not restrictions. Nutrition experts agree that sugary drinks harm health – with the beverages linked to diabetes, heart disease and obesity – but some don't think SNAP bans are the right solution. Joel Berg of Hunger Free America argued that affordability and access are bigger barriers. "If we want healthier diets, make nutritious food cheaper and more available," he said. Meanwhile, single mother Natalie Kiyah from Oregon – a SNAP recipient – said occasional soda purchases are a small luxury. "Choice gives dignity," she said, adding that processed foods are often her only affordable option. Some researchers propose positive reinforcement, like programs that offer extra SNAP funds for buying fruits and vegetables. Dariush Mozaffarian of Tufts University noted that SNAP has reduced hunger but done little to improve nutrition. "The 'N' in SNAP has been missing," he said, advocating for policies that "nudge" healthier choices without eliminating options. Check out FoodSupply.news for more similar stories. Watch this clip that discusses major SNAP benefit changes happening under President Donald Trump. This video is from the TREASURE OF THE SUN channel on Brighteon.com.

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Cancer cells are fueled by sugary drinks, making tumors grow faster. Study confirms long-term consumption of sugary drinks cause liver damage. Drinking sugary drinks increases cancer risk NO MATTER what you weigh. Study: Consumption of beer, sugary drinks, and tea linked to kidney disease. Combining sugary drinks with protein found to accelerate the body’s storage of fat. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com KATV.com NPR.org Brighteon.com

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