RFK Jr. announces that six more states are banning junk food from SNAP program
Fighting obesity is a key component of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda.
That agenda got a boost recently when six more states opted to ban junk food from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Total number of states excluding junk food from SNAP rises to 12
According to the Department of Agriculture, "SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget."
While the program is funded by federal tax dollars, it is administered at the state level, with six states being granted a waiver this week which allows them to exclude soda, candy and other high-sugar junk foods starting next year.
Fox News reported that those states are West Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. They join Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, Arkansas, Idaho and Utah, which have already been granted similar waivers.
Kennedy touted the development in a press release put out on Monday, saying, "For years, SNAP has used taxpayer dollars to fund soda and candy, products that fuel America’s diabetes and chronic disease epidemics."
Agriculture secretary: "President Trump has changed the status quo"
"These waivers help put real food back at the center of the program and empower states to lead the charge in protecting public health," he asserted.
The American taxpayer should not be subsidizing industries that are making us sick. Thank you, @GovernorLittle, for taking bold action to remove candy and soda from SNAP. pic.twitter.com/UPGHe9nyJw
— Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) July 26, 2025
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins spoke up as well, stating, "It is incredible to see so many states take action at this critical moment in our nation’s history and do something to begin to address chronic health problems."
"President Trump has changed the status quo, and the entire Cabinet is taking action to Make America Healthy Again," she stressed.
"At USDA, we play a key role in supporting Americans who fall on hard times, and that commitment does not change. Rather, these state waivers promote healthier options for families in need," Rollins added.
FDA chief says change will "reduce mass suffering from diabetes"
Meanwhile, U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner (FDA) Dr. Marty Makary also voiced approval for the change.
"I hope to see all 50 states join this bold commonsense approach. For too long, the root causes of our chronic disease epidemic has been addressed with lip service only. It’s time for powerful changes to our nation’s SNAP program," Makary remarked.
"The goal is simple—reduce mass suffering from diabetes, obesity, and other long term medical conditions. I applaud the leadership of Secretaries Rollins and Kennedy, and President Trump in going bold," he went on to add.
