MAHA: 12 States Cutting Soda, Candy from Food Stamps

In what’s being praised as another “Make America Healthy Again” win, a growing number of states have been approved to limit food stamp purchases to healthier options, cutting out sugary drinks and candy.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Monday authorized waivers from another six states asking to limit purchases with food stamps — known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The latest states to join the MAHA trend are West Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.

In total, 12 states are now approved to limit food stamps since President Donald Trump took office in January and tapped Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — the figurehead of the MAHA movement — to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Below are the 12 states making these cuts:

Arkansas: Soda, fruit and vegetable drinks with less than 50% natural juice, other unhealthy drinks, and candy will be barred from food stamps purchases by July 2026.

Colorado: By March 2026, SNAP will restrict soft drink purchases.

Florida: Soda, energy drinks, candy, and prepared desserts will no longer be permitted food stamp purchases by January 2026.

Idaho: Soda and candy will be restricted by January 2026.

Indiana: Soft drinks and candy will be restricted by January 2026.

Iowa: By January 2026, taxable food items in the state, which will include most candy, soft drinks, and prepared foods, will be restricted.

Louisiana: With a target date of January 15, 2026, the state will ban the purchase of soft drinks, energy drinks, and candy with SNAP.

Nebraska: Soda and energy drinks will be restricted by January 2026.

Oklahoma: Soft drinks and candy will be restricted by January 2026.

Texas: By April 2026, sweetened drinks and candy will be barred from SNAP purchases.

Utah: Soft drink purchases will be barred by January 2026.

West Virginia: Soda will be restricted by January 2026.

Kennedy on Tuesday reaffirmed his message that taxpayers should not be forced to pay for unhealthy foods like soda and candy, which he says are fueling the obesity epidemic in the U.S. and making Americans sick.

“We are spending $405 million a day on SNAP and about 10% is going to sugary drinks, and if you add candies to that, it’s about 13-17%.”

“We all believe in free choice,” the secretary emphasized. “We live in a democracy — people can make their own choice about what they are going to buy and what they are not going to buy. If you want to buy a sugary soda, you should be able to do that, but the U.S. taxpayer should not pay for it.”

“U.S. taxpayers should not be paying to feed the poorest kids in the country food that will give them diabetes,” RFK added.