RFK Jr. Calls for Ban on Soda Purchases Using Food Stamps

Kennedy Pushes to Ban SNAP Soda Purchases

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is intensifying his campaign to overhaul American food policy by urging governors to apply for waivers that would prevent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from being used to buy soda. The White House / Wikimedia

West Virginia Joins RFK Jr.’s Soda Ban Push

At an event held in a West Virginia school gym, Kennedy stood alongside Republican Governor Patrick Morrisey, who declared his intent to seek federal approval to implement the ban. “Taxpayer dollars should be targeted toward nutritious foods,” Morrisey said, standing behind a podium marked with the slogan “MAHA Starts Here,” a nod to Kennedy’s Make America Healthy Again agenda. Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia

Kennedy Rallies Governors to Join SNAP Soda Ban

The soda restriction is a key element in Kennedy’s broader effort to address chronic disease and childhood illness, which he claims are fueled in part by government-subsidized purchases of unhealthy products. “Get in line behind Governor Morrisey,” he said. “Apply for a waiver to my agency, and we’re going to give it to you. Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia

Backlash Grows Against SNAP Soda Restrictions

However, the proposed restrictions have sparked a nationwide debate. Anti-hunger advocates argue the move disproportionately harms low-income Americans by limiting their food choices. Meanwhile, the beverage industry is lobbying hard against the initiative. “What’s unhelpful about this whole conversation is that soda is not driving obesity,” said Merideth Potter, senior vice president at the American Beverage Association. “We’ve become this easy punching bag.” igorovsyannykov / Pixabay

USDA Holds Final Say on SNAP Reform

Despite Kennedy’s efforts, the final decision rests with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, not HHS. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, who did not attend the event, released a statement: “I look forward to receiving Governor Morrisey’s SNAP pilot request and will work swiftly to make certain West Virginia is equipped with the technical assistance and expertise to move forward.” U.S. Department of Agriculture / Wikimedia

Kennedy Expands Outreach to Other Governors

According to White House senior adviser Calley Means, Kennedy is in talks with more than 15 governors about banning soda purchases through SNAP. “We’re not saying anyone can’t drink Coke,” Means clarified. “We’re saying no government subsidies for Coke.” Craig Adderley / Pexels

More GOP States Target Junk Food in SNAP

Other GOP-led states are following suit. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders recently announced her state’s intention to ban SNAP purchases of junk food, and Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed legislation seeking to block soft drink purchases under the program. Mike De Sisti / USA TODAY NETWORK

Kennedy’s Broader Food Reform Sparks Bipartisan Debate

Kennedy’s broader food reform platform — including banning ultra-processed foods from school cafeterias and limiting food dye use — has earned some bipartisan interest. Yet his tenure as HHS Secretary remains polarizing. Just a day before the Martinsburg event, Kennedy announced a major downsizing of HHS, cutting nearly 25% of its workforce and consolidating multiple departments. Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Vaccine Controversy Shadows Kennedy’s Tenure

Kennedy, known for founding a controversial anti-vaccine group, continues to face pressure to strongly promote vaccinations amid a growing measles outbreak. While he insists he is not anti-vaccine, critics — particularly Democrats — question his leadership during a time of rising infectious disease risks. The White House has reiterated that HHS has consistently advocated for vaccination as the most effective preventive measure. Boghosian, Joyce: United States Department of Health and Human Services (The White House) / Wikimedia