Federal Judge Blocks Ban on SNAP Purchases of Candy and Soda

A federal judge has ruled that the U.S. government cannot prevent beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from using their benefits to purchase candy, soda, and other sugary drinks. The decision, handed down on Monday by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, halts restrictions that were either in effect or planned in 23 states as part of the "Make America Healthy Again" initiative led by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Judge Jackson, who was nominated to the bench by former President Barack Obama, emphasized that her ruling was not a judgment on the health merits of the restrictions. "The federal defendants and the states may have a genuine desire to improve the health of SNAP households by encouraging healthy choices at the store, and they can take lawful steps to meet those goals," she wrote. "But what they cannot do is violate the law and their own regulations along the way."

At the heart of the case is the legal definition of "food" under federal law. SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps, can be used for "any food or food product for home consumption except alcoholic beverages, tobacco, hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption." The judge found that the restrictions ran contrary to this definition and that the government had no authority under existing law to limit purchases for nutritional reasons. While the government can waive certain requirements, improving nutrition is not listed as a valid reason to do so.

The restrictions, which varied by state, targeted sugary drinks and candy, with some states also including sports drinks. The exact rules differed: some states sought to ban both sugary drinks and candy, while others only targeted sugary beverages. The legal challenge was filed by SNAP beneficiaries from Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Notably, Colorado's human services board voted against implementing the ban earlier this year after a hearing where beneficiaries argued the rules would cause stigma and confusion.

The Trump administration has not yet indicated whether it will appeal the ruling. The decision adds to a series of legal challenges against Trump administration policies that hinge on whether the executive branch can change established rules without congressional approval. SNAP currently serves nearly 39 million Americans, or about one in nine people, making it the nation's largest food aid program.