Press Release
Nebraska Secures Historic SNAP Waiver to Prohibit Soda Purchases
Lincoln, NE – May 19, 2023 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has approved a groundbreaking waiver allowing Nebraska to prohibit Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries from using their benefits to purchase soda and energy drinks starting January 1, 2024. This marks the first initiative of its kind in the nation, as Rollins emphasized its significance in promoting public health.
"Today’s waiver is a historic step to Make America Healthy Again," Rollins stated. "Under the leadership of President Trump, we are encouraging states like Nebraska to innovate in improving national health outcomes." The waiver allows for the exclusion of soda and energy drinks from SNAP purchases, joining other already prohibited items, such as alcohol and tobacco.
Nebraska’s initiative aligns with similar efforts in Arkansas, where Governor Sarah Sanders announced a request to exclude not just sugary drinks but also unhealthy snacks from SNAP eligibility. Sanders highlighted the peculiar discrepancy of allowing soft drink purchases with food stamps while healthy options like rotisserie chicken remain ineligible.
In Arkansas, where diabetes rates are among the highest in the nation, Sanders urged that the current use of SNAP benefits is detrimental to public health, indirectly costing taxpayers through chronic illness management.
However, the American Beverage Association criticized the waiver, arguing it oversimplifies the complex issue of obesity and low-income diets. Senior VP Merideth Potter pointed out that narrowing purchasing options doesn’t address broader dietary concerns or access to healthy foods.
With more than 100,000 Arkansas households relying on SNAP benefits and the program costing the federal government approximately $100.2 billion in 2025, the future implications of these changes could significantly reshape food assistance policies nationwide.
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