SNAP Changes: What foods could be excluded in Arkansas?
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced a plan on Tuesday to exclude certain foods that are currently eligible expenses under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Sanders made the announcement with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke L. Rollins.
The governor said her state's request is aimed at improving the health of more than $300,000 residents who participate in SNAP.
'Taxpayers are subsidizing poor health,' Sanders said. 'We're paying for it on the front end and the back end.'
Here's what would be excluded from SNAP if Arkansas' request is granted by the USDA:
The plan, which would go into effect in July 2026, would exclude soda, including no- and low-calorie soda; fruit and vegetable drinks with less than 50% natural juice; 'unhealthy drinks;' candy, including confections made with flour, like Kit Kat bars; and artificially sweetened candy.
A waiver signed by Arkansas Secretary of Health and Human Services Kristi Putnam said the exclusion would not extend to flavored water, carbonated flavored water, and sports drinks.
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announces plan to remove sugary foods from SNAP
However, one food item would be added if Arkansas' request is granted: hot, ready-to-eat rotisserie chicken.
'Right now, you can use food stamps to buy a soft drink or candy bar from a gas station, but you can't use them to buy an Arkansas-raised hot rotisserie chicken from a grocery store,' Sanders said. 'That's the definition of crazy.'
The SNAP program is run by the USDA and administered through individual states. It is authorized by the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, which says that SNAP benefits can be used for 'any food or food product intended for human consumption,' except alcohol, tobacco and hot foods.
In general, benefits are available to households with gross income at or below 130% of the federal poverty level, or about $33,500 a year for three people, according to the USDA.
Arkansas was not the only state to introduce a plan to ban certain foods from SNAP benefits.
On Tuesday, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun was joined by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Mehmet Oz, who leads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to announce sweeping changes to 'put the focus back on nutrition — not candy and soft drinks.'
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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