If HHS Secretary and wholesome meals advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has his method, SNAP will stand for Soda Not Allowed Interval.
On Friday, Kennedy introduced his “Make America Wholesome Once more” marketing campaign to West Virginia, the place Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey introduced that he shall be looking for permission from the Division of Agriculture to place soda on the checklist of things that can not be purchased by means of the Supplemental Vitamin Help Program, typically referred to by its former title of meals stamps, in line with The Washington Post.
“Taxpayer {dollars} ought to be focused towards nutritious meals,” Morrisey stated.
Kennedy issued a full-throated request for states to repeat Morrisey’s lead.
“I urge each Governor to comply with West Virginia’s lead and submit a waiver to the USDA to take away soda from SNAP,” Kennedy stated in a press release, in line with Newsweek.
“If there’s one factor we are able to agree on, it ought to be eliminating taxpayer-funded soda subsidies for decrease earnings youngsters. I sit up for inviting each Governor who submits a waiver to come back have a good time with me on the White Home this fall,” he stated.
Waging a SNAP battle on soda is opposed by Valerie Imbruce, director of the Middle for Atmosphere and Society at Washington School.
“Controlling how the poor eat is a paternalistic response to an issue that isn’t primarily based in SNAP recipients’ lack of ability to make good selections about wholesome meals, it’s a drawback of the worth differential in selecting wholesome or junk meals,” she stated.
“Soda and sweet are less expensive and extra calorie dense than one hundred pc fruit juices or prebiotic non-artificially sweetened carbonated drinks, thanks to cost helps and subsidies by the federal authorities to help a U.S. sugar trade,” she added.
The soda trade was additionally miffed, the Submit famous.
RFK Jr. “I wish to commend Governor Morrisey … for his braveness.”
“These legislators who’re pushing this invoice, all of them are getting calls day-after-day from the large soda firms … and the faux meals firms.”
“We’re not consuming meals. We’re consuming food-like substances.” pic.twitter.com/ncl0v8I5DG
— Holden Culotta (@Holden_Culotta) March 28, 2025
“What’s unhelpful about this entire dialog is that soda isn’t driving weight problems,” Merideth Potter, senior vice chairman on the American Beverage Affiliation, the trade’s lobbying group, reacted. “We’ve develop into this simple punching bag.”
Seth DiStefano, of the leftist West Virginia Middle on Price range and Coverage, stated a ban on SNAP paying for soda may drive customers out of the state and result in retailer closures.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins is the one who makes the decision on SNAP.
“I sit up for receiving Governor Morrisey’s SNAP pilot request and can work swiftly to make sure West Virginia is provided with the technical help and experience to maneuver ahead,” Rollins stated in a press release.
Calley Means, a senior adviser on the White Home, stated 15 governors are speaking with Kennedy about eradicating soda from the checklist of merchandise SNAP funds can purchase.
“We’re not saying anybody can’t drink Coke,” Means stated. “We’re saying no authorities subsidies for Coke.”
This text appeared initially on The Western Journal.
