Judge Blocks Effort to Restrict SNAP Purchases of Sugary Products

19 hours ago 0

A federal judge has halted a Trump administration-backed initiative to restrict SNAP recipients from buying soda and other sugary products. This decision could impact millions of Americans nationwide.

In a comprehensive 68-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson declared that Congress did not grant the USDA authority to alter or waive the definition of eligible food under the Food and Nutrition Act. She emphasized that the department cannot eliminate specific food types from SNAP altogether.

The ruling nullifies USDA approvals that permitted states to implement pilot programs excluding items like soda and candy from SNAP eligibility. This marks a significant setback in efforts to adjust SNAP purchasing rules aiming to combat the rising rates of diet-related illnesses in the U.S.

The lawsuit, filed by SNAP recipients from Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia, was represented by the National Center for Law and Economic Justice (NCLEJ). In total, 23 states had received food restriction waivers from the USDA, affecting 13.5 million SNAP recipients.

Historically, SNAP benefits have covered any food products or beverages meant for human consumption, excluding alcohol, tobacco, and prepared hot foods. The restriction policy was part of Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, introduced to reduce sugary product consumption among low-income households, which health officials have linked to high obesity and diabetes rates in America.

However, critics have raised concerns that the policy could complicate a program serving approximately 42 million Americans.

Newsweek attempted to reach out to the USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services for comments, but has not received a reply.

States With Approved SNAP Food Restriction Waivers

The USDA waiver database indicates that several states received “food restriction” waivers. These include not only the states involved in the lawsuit—Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia—but also others such as Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and more.

In 2025, Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia submitted waiver requests to exclude soda and similar items deemed “unhealthy” from SNAP purchases. The pilot programs commenced in several states, except Tennessee, which was slated to start in July.

The waivers aimed to study shopping habits and assess the effects of restrictions on participants’ health. Participants were not given opt-out options; all were subject to the restrictions. Some states targeted only soft drinks while others expanded restrictions to categories like candy, desserts, or taxable food items.

Impact on Millions of Americans

The ruling’s impact could reach millions of SNAP recipients, based on enrollment data. Colorado has approximately 580,000 recipients, Tennessee about 596,000, Iowa around 242,000, West Virginia about 256,000, and Nebraska around 132,000, according to the USDA.

Nationally, the USDA had approved waivers in over 20 states, which could have altered purchasing rules for 13.5 million Americans. The NCLEJ welcomed the judgment as a significant advancement in reinstating critical food assistance for millions reliant on SNAP nationwide.

Katie Deabler, senior NCLEJ attorney, stated, “This decision reinforces that the USDA must adhere to legal guidelines dictating SNAP operations nationwide. Families deserve a program that minimizes confusion.”

The USDA hinted at exploring other potential restrictions on SNAP purchases, indicating that the legal dispute over what constitutes “food” under the program might continue, as reported by Reuters. For now, the court’s decision upholds federal regulations allowing SNAP recipients to buy most food items.