Iowa and Indiana have received a waiver approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ban junk food from being bought using SNAP benefits.
The push to limit SNAP purchases in Republican states has divided opinion, with one expert telling Newsweek that “the intent is power and controlling individuals with low incomes rather than improving nutrition.”
Why It Matters
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, also known as “food stamps,” are paid to low- and no-income households across the U.S. that would otherwise struggle to afford groceries. Across both states, nearly 1 million people receive the anti-poverty benefit.
The approvals come as several Republican states push to limit what can be purchased with SNAP benefits. Nebraska became the first state to have its waiver request approved by the USDA just last week, banning soda and energy drinks purchases.
What To Know
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins confirmed she had approved both of the requests in a press release issued on May 23.
Indiana’s waiver excludes soft drinks and candy, and it will take effect on January 1, 2026. In Iowa, the waiver excludes any food item eligible for sales tax including sweetened beverages, snacks, and candy, and will take effect on the same day.
A waiver grants flexibility by modifying specific USDA program rules, enabling states to administer the SNAP program in different ways. Various states currently have SNAP waivers in place, and they were widely implemented during the coronavirus pandemic to enhance access to food benefits.
“States have always been the greatest laboratories of democracy, and I am confident the best ideas will come from them,” Rollins said in a statement sent to Newsweek. “Whether demonstration pilots on allowable purchases, or newfound ways to connect work-capable adults to jobs, or even new ways to get food to communities, I will continue to encourage states to be bold and enact change.”
Supporters of limiting SNAP purchases argue the goal is to reduce preventable chronic health conditions by encouraging healthier food choices through SNAP. But critics have argued the policy is paternalistic and fails to address the fact that many low-income communities lack access to healthy, affordable food options.
What People Are Saying
Iowa’s Republican Governor Kim Reynolds: “Soaring obesity rates have brought our nation and state to a crossroads. To promote healthy eating and protect future generations from disease—and to ensure SNAP fulfills its core function—we need a change. Thank you to Secretary Rollins and her team for helping make that change happen.”
Indiana Governor Mike Braun, also a Republican: “Indiana is proud to be a leader in the Make America Healthy Again initiative, and today Secretary Rollins signed our waiver to return SNAP in Indiana to its intended purpose: nutrition. President Trump and Secretary Rollins are putting our farmers first and supporting American agriculture, and I was proud to join them today.”
Gina Plata-Nino, deputy director at the Food Research & Action Center, told The Associated Press: “Incentive-based approaches—not punitive restrictions—are the most effective, dignified path to improving nutrition and reducing hunger.”
Kavelle Christie, a health policy and advocacy expert, told Newsweek: “These proposals may seem appealing at first—after all, who wouldn’t want to promote healthier eating habits? However, examining them closely makes it clear that the intent is power and controlling individuals with low incomes rather than improving nutrition.
“SNAP has long been a political target, often viewed as a means to impose moral judgments on low-income families rather than recognized as the essential safety net it truly is.”
What Happens Next
Rollins said she looked forward “to signing even more waivers in the days ahead as we continue to restore the health of America.”
The post Two More States Ban Junk Food From SNAP Benefits appeared first on Newsweek.
