Some states look to restrict soda and candy from food stamp purchases. Arkansas and Indiana are 'first in line.'

SNAP changes restricting soda from purchases has
soda makers worried. (Adobe Stock photo)

Food stamp recipients in two states may no longer be able to purchase soda or candy with their monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP benefits. Soda makers have long fought against the restriction. "The Agriculture Department is fast-tracking state requests to yank soda and candy from food-stamp programs," report Laura Cooper, Kristina Peterson and Josh Dawsey of The Wall Street Journal. "Arkansas and Indiana are among the first in line." The changes would impact many rural residents who are often more likely receive SNAP benefits than their metro or urban counterparts.

Indiana and Arkansas said "they were seeking clearance from the USDA to implement the changes, and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said her agency would move 'very, very quickly' to approve them," the Journal reports. Rollins told the Journal, "That’s exactly the vision of making America healthy again. I am 100% certain that these changes will be nothing but positive for those underserved communities that are food challenged.”

If multiple states choose to adopt the restrictions, soda maker sales would take a dip. "Soda companies have lobbied hard against such changes," the Journal reports. "The Republican governors of West Virginia and Utah have said they plan to pursue similar restrictions in their food-aid programs."

Historically, SNAP recipients spend a fair amount of their food purchasing dollars on highly processed foods including soda. "About 23% of food stamp dollars go toward foods like sweetened beverages, candy, desserts and salty snacks − for an annual total of about $25 billion," report Calley Means and Tarren Bragdon in their opinion for USA Today. "These foods are proven to contribute to obesity and a slew of related health problems in children and adults."

Soda makers have tried to convince President Trump that restricting SNAP food and beverage purposes would anger many of his supporters, and "Trump himself, who also drinks Diet Coke from a wine glass for toasts, has been skeptical of banning things his supporters like," reports The Wall Street Journal. "Republicans have long been divided on the issue, with some uncomfortable over the idea of policing people’s purchases."