06/23/2026
🚨Federal Judge Blocks SNAP Restrictions on Soda, Candy Purchases
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from allowing states to ban SNAP recipients from using their benefits to purchase soda, candy, and other sugary products.
In a ruling issued Monday, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson found that the U.S. Department of Agriculture exceeded its legal authority when it approved waivers restricting certain food purchases under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The lawsuit was brought by SNAP recipients in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
The waivers were part of the administration's "Make America Healthy Again" initiative, which aimed to limit the purchase of sugary products with federal food assistance benefits. Similar waivers had been approved for more than 20 states.
Jackson's ruling focused on federal law, not the health policy debate itself. The court concluded that Congress, not the USDA, has the authority to change which foods qualify for SNAP benefits.
The USDA has defended the restrictions as an effort to promote healthier eating and reduce chronic disease, but has not announced whether it will appeal the decision.
SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program, provides food assistance to millions of Americans and generally allows benefits to be used for most food products intended for home consumption.