Sat Dec 13 06:30:00 UTC 2025: ## News Article: SNAP Restrictions Expand to 6 More States in Push for Healthier Food Choices

Washington D.C. – Six more states – Hawai’i, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee – have been approved for waivers to restrict what Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits can be used to purchase. The announcement, made Wednesday by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., expands the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative, bringing the total number of states with approved waivers to 18.

These waivers, slated to take effect in 2026, allow states to redefine “food for purchase” under SNAP, effectively limiting the use of food stamps on certain processed foods and sugary drinks.

“We are restoring SNAP to its true purpose – nutrition,” said Secretary Rollins, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to tackling chronic diseases. “These new waivers empower states to lead, protecting our children from the dangers of highly-processed foods and moving one step closer to the President’s promise to Make America Healthy Again.”

Secretary Kennedy Jr. echoed this sentiment, stating, “We cannot continue a system that forces taxpayers to fund programs that make people sick and then pay a second time to treat the illnesses those very programs help create.” He thanked the governors of the participating states for leading the charge on SNAP reform.

The initiative, which aims to encourage healthier eating habits among SNAP recipients, previously granted similar waivers to Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Colorado, Florida, and West Virginia in August, as well as Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, and Utah earlier this year.

The USDA’s “Laboratories of Innovation” initiative, launched by Secretary Rollins, encourages states to develop innovative solutions to strengthen federal nutrition programs and protect taxpayer resources, paving the way for these widespread SNAP reforms.

The specific list of restricted items in each state will be determined closer to the 2026 implementation date. This expansion of SNAP restrictions marks a significant shift in the federal food assistance program, sparking debate about its potential impact on both beneficiaries and the food industry.

Read More