Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Health and Human Services Secretary known for his advocacy of nutritious eating, is on a bold mission to redefine the SNAP program. Under his vision, SNAP might soon mean Soda Not Allowed Period.
On a vibrant Friday in West Virginia, Kennedy, alongside Republican Governor Patrick Morrisey, took a strong stance against sugary sodas. Governor Morrisey announced he would seek permission from the Department of Agriculture to eliminate soda purchases from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps. This initiative was reported by The Washington Post.
“Taxpayer dollars should be targeted toward nutritious foods,” Morrisey declared.
Kennedy, in a powerful statement, urged all states to follow West Virginia’s example. “I urge every Governor to follow West Virginia’s lead and submit a waiver to the USDA to remove soda from SNAP,” he stated, as cited by 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,” Kennedy added.
However, this strong stance is not without its critics. Valerie Imbruce, director of the Center for Environment and Society at Washington College, argued against what she called a “paternalistic” approach. She emphasized that the core issue is not the decision-making ability of SNAP recipients but the economic disparity between healthy and junk foods.
“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 explained.
The soda industry itself is not pleased, as noted by the Post. Meredith Potter from the American Beverage Association commented that the debate around soda and obesity is misplaced, stating, “We’ve become this easy punching bag.”
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.”
— Holden Culotta (@Holden_Culotta)
March 28, 2025
Seth DiStefano from the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy warned that a ban on SNAP sodas could lead to shoppers leaving the state and potential store closures.
Ultimately, the decision rests with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. “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 assured.
Calley Means, a senior advisor at the White House, revealed that 15 governors are in discussions with Kennedy about this crucial change to SNAP. “We’re not saying anyone can’t drink Coke,” Means clarified. “We’re saying no government subsidies for Coke.”
