Soda sales have fizzled out after several states banned food stamp recipients from buying pop. Under Donald Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, the administration has pushed states to submit food restriction waivers that ban recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP or food stamps, from buying sugary foods like soda and candy with their benefits. The Trump administration has approved these waivers in 23 states, although a federal judge blocked five of these states from implementing them.
A new working paper from researchers at Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of Chicago analyzed the first 10 states that banned spending SNAP benefits on sugary drinks. Researchers found that the restrictions led to a 12.4 percent decline in purchases of sugary drinks, such as soda, by SNAP recipients — about 34 fewer 12-ounce cans per person per year. In states that only somewhat restricted sugary drinks — for example, banned soda but not fruit or energy drinks — SNAP households partially switched to the sugary drinks that were still allowed.
It was originally believed that SNAP recipients would simply pay for soda with their own money if their benefits didn’t cover it because most recipients spend more on groceries than they get from the food assistance program, according to a University of Chicago release about the new working paper. But the working paper joins recent research suggesting bans on sugary drinks could dissuade recipients from buying the beverages altogether since they treat their SNAP benefits as a separate budget. Health Secretary Robert F.
Kennedy Jr. celebrated states banning food stamp recipients from buying sugary foods, saying in an August 2025 statement, “For years, SNAP has used taxpayer dollars to fund soda and candy—products that fuel America’s diabetes and chronic disease epidemics.” “These waivers help put real food back at the center of the program and empower states to lead the charge in protecting public health,” Kennedy added. Researchers said banning all sugary drinks from SNAP recipients nationwide would provide about $1.1 billion in annual economic benefits. Seventy percent of the savings would come from an estimated reduction in health care costs based on predictions that those on food stamps would lose weight and reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
But researchers also warned that restricting what groceries SNAP recipients can buy increases their perceptions of stigma — leaving them feeling judged when paying with their benefits, disrespected by state officials or deprived of personal freedom. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
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