WASHINGTON D.C. – Indiana and Iowa have received waiver approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ban certain “junk food” items from being purchased using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This move aligns with a broader push by several Republican states to limit what can be bought with these anti-poverty benefits.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins confirmed the approval of both requests in a press release issued on May 23. Indiana’s waiver will exclude soft drinks and candy from SNAP purchases, effective January 1, 2026. In Iowa, the waiver, also effective the same day, will exclude any food item eligible for sales tax, including sweetened beverages, snacks, and candy.
A waiver grants states flexibility to modify specific USDA program rules, allowing them to administer the SNAP program in different ways. Such waivers were widely used during the coronavirus pandemic to enhance access to food benefits.
Secretary Rollins expressed her confidence in states as “the greatest laboratories of democracy,” stating that she would “continue to encourage states to be bold and enact change.”
The decision has ignited debate, with supporters arguing that limiting SNAP purchases aims to reduce preventable chronic health conditions by encouraging healthier food choices. However, critics contend that the policy is paternalistic and fails to address the lack of access to nutritious, affordable food options in many low-income communities.
Indiana Governor Mike Braun, a Republican, stated, “Indiana is proud to be a leader in the Make America Healthy Again initiative, and today, Secretary Rollins signed our waiver to return SNAP in Indiana to its intended purpose: nutrition.”
Similarly, Iowa’s Republican Governor Kim Reynolds commented, “Soaring obesity rates have brought our nation and state to a crossroads. To promote healthy eating and protect future generations from disease—and to ensure SNAP fulfills its core function—we need a change”.
Across both Indiana and Iowa, nearly 1 million people receive SNAP benefits. Rollins indicated she looked forward to “signing even more waivers in the days ahead as we continue to restore the health of America”.
