American Heart Association comes out in favor of Arkansas Gov. Sanders' plan to reduce sugar consumption
The AHA said it had sent comments in support of the governor's request to the USDA to prohibit sugary drink purchases with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) benefits in Arkansas.
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announces plan to remove sugary foods from SNAP
The statement issued Wednesday continued that the policy and policies like it are met with 'fierce opposition' from the soda industry.
For decades, the soda industry has opposed efforts by the Association and others to pass meaningful public policies to address the overconsumption of sugary drinks,' the statement reads. 'This outrageous behavior continues with the industry's opposition to removing sugary drinks from SNAP, even though sugary drinks are among the most purchased items by SNAP participants.'
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders gives state-of-the-state address, introduces new policy initiatives
AHA CEO Nancy Brown said sugary drink consumption leads to increased health risks.
'Arkansas and other states across the country are standing up to the soda industry and taking bold moves to improve the health of their citizens,' Brown said. 'The facts are clear – sugary drinks are the largest source of added sugars in the U.S. diet, and sugary drink consumption can lead to cardiovascular disease.'
SNAP Changes: What foods could be excluded in Arkansas?
In addition to advocating for reducing sugary drink consumption in SNAP, the AHA has worked with public health partners across the country to increase sugary beverage taxes in several large cities.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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It was written by: William Cornwell, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Read more: Light exercise can yield significant cognitive benefits, new research shows Heart rate zones aren't a perfect measure of exercise intensity, but regularly getting your heart pumping is still important for fitness Tracking daily step counts can be a useful tool for weight management – an exercise scientist parses the science William Cornwell does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
