SNAP Benefits Under Fire: Trump Official Pushes to Ban Junk Food from Food Stamps

The Donald Trump administration is considering banning the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for purchasing sugary drinks and junk food.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the initiative, emphasizing the need to promote healthier food choices among the 42 million Americans relying on SNAP. She plans to collaborate with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to implement these changes.

"We really need to look at where that money is going, what it’s being spent on," Rollins told reporters at the White House, the New York Post noted.

"When a taxpayer is putting money into SNAP, are we OK with us using their tax dollars to feed really bad food and sugary drinks to children who perhaps need something more nutritious?"

The proposal aligns with new legislative efforts like the Healthy SNAP Act, introduced by Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.), which aims to prohibit purchases of soft drinks, candy, ice cream, and prepared desserts using SNAP benefits. Brecheen argues that while individuals can buy junk food with their own money, taxpayer funds should not cover these purchases or their related health consequences.

"Don’t ask the taxpayer to pay for it and then also expect the taxpayer to pick up the tab for the resulting health consequences," the congressman said in a statement. 

The administration believes that restricting SNAP purchases would encourage healthier eating habits while ensuring taxpayer dollars fund more nutritious food. However, past attempts to limit SNAP purchases have faced resistance due to enforcement challenges and opposition from the food and beverage industry. Major companies like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have actively lobbied against similar measures, pointing to their efforts to offer healthier, no-sugar options and advocating for increased access to nutritious food instead of outright restrictions, the Wall Street Journal reported.

SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp Program, is designed to assist low-income individuals and families in purchasing food. While previous discussions have considered restricting purchases of certain unhealthy items, defining what qualifies as “healthy” or “unhealthy” has been a point of contention.

The Trump administration’s push for change is expected to spark debate among policymakers, industry stakeholders, and public health advocates as they weigh the balance between nutrition promotion and personal choice.

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