Trump administration approves waivers to ban junk food from SNAP

• The Trump administration is approving state waivers to remove junk food and sugary drinks from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) purchases, starting with Nebraska, Indiana and Iowa, with more states expected to follow.
• The policy aims to combat rising childhood obesity, diabetes and chronic diseases linked to ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which dominate many SNAP purchases.
• A 69-page report highlights poor diet as the leading cause of childhood health issues and calls for reforms to promote nutritious food access over taxpayer-funded junk food.
• Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. vows to tackle toxins and corruption in food systems, prioritizing children’s health through science-based policies.
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasizes America’s farmers as key to providing healthier food options, aligning SNAP with Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.

The Trump administration is set to approve several state waivers to eliminate junk food and sugary drinks from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

On Thursday, May 22, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins announced at a Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) event that several states are eliminating junk food and sugary drinks from SNAP. (Related: Food stamp program creates dependents without improving nutrition or food security, according to study.)

“We are on track to sign multiples of snap waivers to get junk food and sugary drinks out of our food stamp system,” said Rollins, who signed the first waiver in Nebraska on Monday, May 19, alongside Republican Gov. Jim Pillen. Rollins then revealed that she also signed a waiver for Indiana and Iowa, “with half a dozen more coming down the line.”

“That has never happened before under Republican or Democrat administrations,” Rollins added. “We have never made that happen before. So I am so proud and so grateful.”

Nebraska’s waiver makes it the first state in the nation to prohibit SNAP recipients from purchasing junk food, soda and other high-sugar items. The policy will begin as a two-year pilot program. Other GOP-led states, including Texas and West Virginia, have also applied for waivers.

Rollins and RFK Jr. vow to combat childhood chronic diseases linked to poor nutrition

The announcement coincided with the release of a 69-page MAHA Commission report outlining strategies to combat childhood chronic diseases linked to poor nutrition.

According to the report, titled Make Our Children Healthy Again: Assessment, poor diet, particularly ultra-processed foods (UPFs), is the leading driver behind skyrocketing rates of obesity, diabetes, neuro-developmental disorders and mental health issues among American youth. The report defines UPFs as packaged, ready-to-eat products engineered for shelf life and palatability but loaded with added sugars, unhealthy fats and chemical additives while lacking essential nutrients.

Unfortunately, most SNAP purchases include UPFs. This, in turn, affects an average of 42 million low-income Americans who receive SNAP benefits each month, including 1 in 5 children under 17.

As a response, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., vowed to end the war on toxins.

“We will end the childhood chronic disease crisis by attacking its root causes head-on – not just managing its symptoms,” Kennedy said. “We will follow the truth wherever it leads, uphold rigorous science, and drive bold policies that put the health, development and future of every child first. I’m grateful to President Trump for his leadership – and for trusting me to lead this fight to root out corruption, restore scientific integrity and reclaim the health of our children.”

Rollins, who spearheads SNAP, echoed a similar stance.

“We must do more to improve the health outcomes of our kids and families and President Trump knows agriculture is at the heart of the solution. America’s farmers and ranchers dedicate their lives to the noble cause of feeding their country and the world, and in doing so have created the safest and most abundant and affordable food supply in the world. We are working to make sure our kids and families are consuming the healthiest food we produce,” Rollins said.

Check out FoodSupply.news for more similar stories.

Watch this video explaining the major SNAP benefit changes under the second Trump administration.

This video is from the Treasure of the Sun channel on Brighteon.com.

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Sources include:

100PercentFedUp.com

FoxNews.com

Cov.com

HHS.gov

Brighteon.com