RFK Jr. Moves to Cut Soda from List of Approved Food Stamp Purchases – Industry Turns on Him
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, is advocating for a ban on the purchase of soda with SNAP benefits, aiming to direct taxpayer dollars towards healthier foods. During a campaign event in West Virginia, Governor Patrick morrisey announced his intention to seek permission from the USDA to include soda on the banned items list. Kennedy encourages other governors to follow suit, suggesting that eliminating soda subsidies for low-income families is a necessary step towards improving public health.
Critics of the proposal argue that it is a paternalistic approach to food choices and does not address the underlying issue of cost disparities between healthy and unhealthy foods. Valerie Imbruce from Washington College highlighted that cheaper junk foods, supported by government subsidies, lead to unhealthy dietary choices.
The soda industry has expressed dissatisfaction, with representatives claiming that soda is not the sole cause of obesity and criticizing the focus on their products.Additionally, some experts caution that a ban could negatively impact local businesses and shoppers in West Virginia. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated she looks forward to reviewing Morrisey’s request, while kennedy’s advisor noted that multiple governors are considering similar actions against soda purchases with SNAP benefits.
If HHS Secretary and healthy food advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has his way, SNAP will stand for Soda Not Allowed Period.
On Friday, Kennedy brought his “Make America Healthy Again” campaign to West Virginia, where Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced that he will be seeking permission from the Department of Agriculture to put soda on the list of items that cannot be bought through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, often referred to by its former name of food stamps, according to The Washington Post.
“Taxpayer dollars should be targeted toward nutritious foods,” Morrisey said.
Kennedy issued a full-throated request for states to copy Morrisey’s lead.
“I urge every Governor to follow West Virginia’s lead and submit a waiver to the USDA to remove soda from SNAP,” Kennedy said in a statement, according to Newsweek.
“If there’s one thing we can agree on, it should be eliminating taxpayer-funded soda subsidies for lower income kids. I look forward to inviting every Governor who submits a waiver to come celebrate with me at the White House this fall,” he said.
Waging a SNAP war on soda is opposed by Valerie Imbruce, director of the Center for Environment and Society at Washington College.
“Controlling how the poor eat is a paternalistic response to a problem that is not based in SNAP recipients’ inability to make good decisions about healthy foods, it is a problem of the price differential in choosing healthy or junk foods,” she said.
“Soda and candy are much cheaper and more calorie dense than 100 percent fruit juices or prebiotic non-artificially sweetened carbonated beverages, thanks to price supports and subsidies by the federal government to support a U.S. sugar industry,” she added.
The soda industry was also miffed, the Post noted.
RFK Jr. “I want to commend Governor Morrisey … for his courage.”
“These legislators who are pushing this bill, all of them are getting calls every day from the big soda companies … and the fake food companies.”
“We’re not eating food. We’re eating food-like substances.” pic.twitter.com/ncl0v8I5DG
— Holden Culotta (@Holden_Culotta) March 28, 2025
“What’s unhelpful about this whole conversation is that soda is not driving obesity,” Merideth Potter, senior vice president at the American Beverage Association, the industry’s lobbying group, reacted. “We’ve become this easy punching bag.”
Seth DiStefano, of the leftist West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, said a ban on SNAP paying for soda could force shoppers out of the state and lead to store closures.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins is the one who makes the call on SNAP.
“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,” Rollins said in a statement.
Calley Means, a senior adviser at the White House, said 15 governors are talking with Kennedy about removing soda from the list of products SNAP funds can buy.
“We’re not saying anyone can’t drink Coke,” Means said. “We’re saying no government subsidies for Coke.”
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