BREAKING: Trump admin approves SNAP ban on soda, junk food in 6 more states

The Trump administration has approved Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) restriction waivers banning soda and other junk food from SNAP eligibility in several states. 

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the move on Monday, saying in a press conference, "Since my confirmation, our department has encouraged states to think differently and creatively about how to solve the many health issues facing Americans. One way is by not allowing taxpayer-funded benefits to be used to purchase unhealthy items like soda, candy, and other junk food. The number one purchase by SNAP recipients is sugary drinks."

"SNAP is a supplemental nutrition program meant to provide health food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford the nutritious food essential to health and well-being. That is the stated purpose of the SNAP program. The law states it, and President Trump's USDA plans to deliver on it, alongside our partners at HHS. So today I'm proud to sign six more waivers for Florida, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and Colorado. This is in addition to the waivers we've already signed for Iowa, Indiana, and others across the country."

According to the USDA, other states that have already had waivers approved by the Trump administration to ban soda and other junk food from SNAP eligibility include Arkansas, Indiana, Idaho, Nebraska, as well as Utah. The agency states that the waivers "are a key step in ensuring that taxpayer dollars provide nutritious options that improve health outcomes within SNAP."

Rollins made similar comments in her speech, and added, "These SNAP waivers are just one piece of the MAHA effort. We work so closely together to encourage voluntary commitments to remove artificial food dyes, among other things, from our food supply, and together, we are crafting sensical dietary guidelines for Americans that prioritize whole, healthy and nutritious foods."