The Trump administration will grant state waivers to restrict purchases of soft drinks through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced in West Virginia Friday.
Kennedy made the statement at an appearance with Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey, who recently signed a bill banning seven food dyes – first in school meals and then all foods in the state.
Morrisey also signed a letter of intent to seek a waiver that would prohibit SNAP recipients from buying soft drinks, and allow the state to impose new work, training and educational requirements on participants.
“Apply for a waiver to my agency and we’re going to give it to you,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy does not have direct authority over SNAP. That program, along with other federal nutrition programs like school meals, falls under USDA’s jurisdiction. However, Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins praised Morrisey in a statement, calling him a "visionary [who is] willing to cut through the D.C. noise to help families move toward healthier behaviors and healthier outcomes.”
She said, "I look forward to receiving Governor Morrisey’s SNAP pilot request and will work swiftly to make certain West Virginia is equipped with the technical assistance and expertise to move forward. I thank him for being a true partner. Together, we will make America great and healthy again!”
Governors in other states, like Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, have also indicated they plan to request a waiver through USDA so they can restrict SNAP purchases on soft drinks and “junk food.” In other cases, state legislatures are considering bills that would direct state officials to request similar waivers.
Efforts to restrict SNAP purchases are not new, but have historically received little traction at the federal level due to pushback from food and retail groups, as well as anti-hunger and nutrition groups.
Kennedy thanked President Donald Trump, saying the president has given him “free rein to do anything I need to do to make America healthy again.”
During the appearance, Kennedy re-upped criticisms of food chemicals and dyes, and said these are responsible for high mental health disorders and chronic disease rates in the country. Recently, Kennedy officially directed the Food and Drug Administration to take steps toward rulemaking that would limit food manufacturers' ability to add ingredients or chemicals without notifying the agency.
Kennedy has also hosted meetings with some of the top food companies. In these meetings, food companies said they were concerned with states passing a patchwork of regulations on food dyes, which would require different product formulation, Kennedy said during Friday's event.
"They are terrified of this, of what you're doing," Kennedy said in reference to the state's food dye ban.
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