MAHA: Tennessee To Join States Banning Candy, Sugary Drinks From Food Stamps
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced Friday that his state will seek federal waivers to reform the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by removing candy, soda, and other high-sugar processed foods from eligibility. The move aligns with the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again initiative, which has already approved similar waivers for 12 other states.
Under the proposal, SNAP benefits could no longer be used to purchase items listing sugar, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, or similar caloric sweeteners as the first ingredient, as well as beverages where carbonated water and sugar or high-fructose corn syrup are the first two ingredients. The waivers would also allow recipients to purchase healthier prepared options such as grilled or rotisserie chicken.
“Tennessee is leading the nation in creating innovative solutions to enhance quality of life,” Lee said in a press release. “I’m proud to continue our legacy of responsible fiscal stewardship while delivering nutritious food choices for hard-working families. I’m grateful to the Trump Administration for its leadership to Make America Healthy Again, and thank our grocery retailers, convenience stores, food producers, and beverage manufacturers for working to ensure that healthier choices reach every community across our state.”
Tennessee is leading the nation in innovative solutions to enhance quality of life, and that’s why we’re working to ensure SNAP fulfills its intended purpose of promoting nutritious food options and reducing chronic health conditions for low-income families.
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) August 8, 2025
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has already granted similar SNAP reforms to Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has strongly backed the effort, arguing that taxpayer dollars should not be spent on foods that contribute to obesity and chronic disease. “We are spending $405 million a day on SNAP and about 10% is going to sugary drinks, and if you add candies to that, it’s about 13-17%,” Kennedy said. “If you want to buy a sugary soda, you should be able to do that, but the U.S. taxpayer should not pay for it. U.S. taxpayers should not be paying to feed the poorest kids in the country food that will give them diabetes.”