Nebraska to ban soda and energy drinks from SNAP under first USDA waiver
New York: Nebraska is the first state to receive a federal waiver to ban the purchase of
soda and energy drinks
under the benefit program for low-income Americans long known as
food stamps
.
The move, announced Monday by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, would affect about 152,000 people in Nebraska enrolled in the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
, or SNAP, which helps families pay for groceries.
"There's absolutely zero reason for taxpayers to be subsidizing purchases of soda and energy drinks," Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen said in a statement. "SNis about helping families in need get healthy food into their diets, but there's nothing nutritious about the junk we're removing with today's waiver."
Six other states - Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Indiana, Iowa and West Virginia - have also submitted requests for waivers banning certain foods and drinks or, in some cases, expanding access to hot foods for participants, according to the USDA.
The push to ban sugary drinks, candy and more from the SNAP program has been key focus of Rollins and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Rollins called Monday's move "a historic step to Make America Healthy again."
Details of Nebraska's waiver, which takes effect Jan. 1, weren't immediately available.
Anti-hunger advocates
criticized it, saying it adds costs, boosts administrative burdens and increases stigma for people already facing food insecurity.
The waiver "ignores decades of evidence showing that incentive-based approaches - not punitive restrictions - are the most effective, dignified path to improving nutrition and reducing hunger," said
Gina Plata-Nino
, a deputy director at the Food Research & Action Center, a nonprofit advocacy group.
SNAP is a roughly $100 billion program that serves about 42 million Americans and is run by the U.S. Agriculture Department and administered through states.
The program is authorized by the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, which says SNAP benefits can be used "for any food or food product intended for human consumption," except alcohol, tobacco and hot foods, including those prepared for immediate consumption.
Over the past 20 years, lawmakers in several states have proposed stopping SNAP from paying for everything from bottled water and soda to chips, ice cream and "luxury meats" like steak.
Until now, USDA rejected the waivers, saying there were no clear standards to define certain foods as good or bad. In addition, the agency had said restrictions would be difficult to implement, complicated and costly, and would not necessarily change recipients' food purchases or reduce health problems such as obesity.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
US restores some medical research grants, says top Trump official
Washington: A senior US health official on Tuesday admitted President Donald Trump's administration had gone too far in slashing biomedical research grants worth billions of dollars, and said efforts were underway to restore some of the funding. Jay Bhattacharya , director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), made the remarks during a Senate committee hearing examining both recent cuts to his agency and deeper reductions proposed by the White House in next year's budget. Bhattachartya said he had created an appeals process for scientists and laboratories whose research was impacted, and that the NIH had already "reversed many" of the cuts. "I didn't take this job to terminate grants," said the physician and health economist who left a professorship at Stanford University to join the Trump administration. "I took this job to make sure that we do the research that advances the health needs of the American people." The hearing came a day after more than 60 NIH employees sent an open letter to Bhattacharya condemning policies they said undermined the agency's mission and the health of Americans. They dubbed it the " Bethesda Declaration " -- a nod both to the NIH's suburban Washington headquarters and to Bhattacharya's role as a prominent signatory of the 2020 "Great Barrington Declaration," which opposed Covid lockdowns. Since Trump's January 20 inauguration, the NIH has terminated 2,100 research grants totaling around $9.5 billion and $2.6 billion in contracts, according to an independent database called Grant Watch. Affected projects include studies on gender, the health effects of global warming, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer. Trump has launched a sweeping overhaul of the US scientific establishment early in his second term -- cutting billions in funding, attacking universities, and overseeing mass layoffs of scientists across federal agencies.
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Time of India
Kennedy's firing of independent CDC advisers undermines vaccine confidence, experts say
Chicago: U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s dismissal of an independent panel of experts citing the goal of restoring trust in vaccines could undermine confidence in those available now, putting Americans at risk of preventable infectious diseases, public health experts and others said on Monday. Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic, said in a commentary published in the Wall Street Journal that he was firing all 17 members of the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "to re-establish public confidence in vaccine science." The committee reviews vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and makes recommendations to the CDC on their use. "I fear that there will be human lives lost here because of this," said Dr. Sean O'Leary, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Committee on Infectious Diseases. "It is a special kind of irony that he is saying he is doing this to restore trust, given that he is, as an individual, more responsible for sowing distrust in vaccines than almost anyone I can name," O'Leary said. O'Leary said pediatricians have already been fielding calls from parents who are confused about conflicting announcements earlier this month narrowing the use of COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women. "This is only going to add to that," he said. A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesman said the agency is prioritizing public health, evidence-based medicine, and restoring public confidence in vaccine science. The firing of the entire vaccine advisory committee comes just weeks before a scheduled public meeting in which advisers were expected to weigh in and vote on a number of decisions, including the 2025-26 COVID-19 vaccine boosters . The health agency said the committee will meet as scheduled on June 25-27, but it is unclear who would serve on that panel or how they have been vetted for conflicts of interest. The agency said it would replace them with new members currently under consideration. Fired ACIP member Noel Brewer, a professor of public health at the University of North Carolina, said it took about 18 months from the time he applied until he was serving as an ACIP member. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer decried the changes. "Wiping out an entire panel of vaccine experts doesn't build trust - it shatters it, and worse, it sends a chilling message: that ideology matters more than evidence, and politics more than public health," he said in a statement. Former CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden called out Kennedy's "false claims" in the Wall Street Journal piece, saying the panel was rife with conflicts of interest. Most of the panel was appointed last year, the CDC website shows. "Make no mistake: Politicizing the ACIP as Secretary Kennedy is doing will undermine public trust under the guise of improving it."
Economic Times
17 hours ago
- Economic Times
He is biologically 24 years old at the age of 41, and his longevity secret involves 3 key supplements
Dr. Mohammed Enayat, a 41-year-old longevity expert from London, claims his biological age is just 24. By tracking his health with wearables and diagnostics, he tailors his lifestyle and relies on three daily supplements—B complex with folate, magnesium, and omega-3s. (Screenshot: Instagram/bydr.e) At 41, most people brace for midlife fatigue. But Dr. Mohammed Enayat, a primary care physician and founder of HUM2N longevity clinic in London, is defying that narrative. With cutting-edge diagnostics and a personalized wellness regime, Enayat claims his biological age is just 24—a full 17 years younger than what his passport states. What's behind this age-defying transformation? According to a report from Business Insider , it's not a magic elixir or an exotic detox. It's a meticulous science-backed regimen driven by relentless self-monitoring, strategic lifestyle choices, and three humble yet powerful supplements. For the past seven years, Dr. Enayat has treated his body like a data lab. He wears devices like the Oura Ring and the Whoop strap to monitor his sleep, recovery, and activity. On top of that, he undergoes frequent blood, urine, and microbiome testing. These insights help him fine-tune everything from nutrition to training—and yes, his supplement stack. While the definition of 'biological age' is still a topic of debate, Enayat uses metrics from GlycanAge and TruAge PACE, which assess inflammation and epigenetic changes. His most recent results—taken 18 months ago—indicated a biological age of 24. But Enayat is the first to admit: supplements are just a part of the bigger puzzle. 'While I believe these supplements have supported my biological age reversal, I credit them as one component in a much broader framework,' he told Business Insider . View this post on Instagram A post shared by HUM2N (@hum2n) Though his supplement intake evolves with his body's changing needs, three remain constant in his rotation—B complex with folate, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids. These are what he calls his 'core' supplements. One reason Dr. Enayat includes this duo daily is a personal one. 'I have a methylation gene defect,' he said, referring to a condition that leads to elevated homocysteine levels—a marker that increases inflammation and risk for cardiovascular disease. To combat this, he relies on a methylated B complex with folate to normalize his levels. Even without this genetic predisposition, Enayat recommends B vitamins during periods of stress or sleep deprivation, when the body's demand for them increases. The benefits? Improved mood, better brain health, and potential dementia prevention. Despite magnesium being plentiful in foods like dark leafy greens and legumes, Enayat says his levels are consistently low. He turns to magnesium bisglycinate, a highly absorbable form, to fill the gap. 'When I take magnesium, my muscles ache less and I fall asleep more easily,' he noted. While only 2% of Americans are thought to be deficient in magnesium, it remains essential for over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body. Known for their heart-healthy reputation, omega-3 fatty acids also make Enayat's daily lineup. Found naturally in fish, walnuts, and chia seeds, omega-3s reduce inflammation and lower blood pressure. For those who don't get enough through diet—like Enayat—a supplement can help close the gap. A recent Nature Aging study added further intrigue, showing that older adults who consumed a gram of omega-3 daily had younger biological ages than those who didn't. Dr. Enayat is the face of a growing movement where medicine, technology, and personal agency intersect. While he doesn't present his regimen as a universal blueprint, his case offers an exciting glimpse into what's possible when modern science meets old-school discipline. So, can you turn back your biological clock? Maybe not overnight—but for Enayat, it starts with knowing your numbers, trusting the data, and supporting your body from the inside out. Supplements might not be the secret to immortality, but in the right hands, they just might be a step toward living younger, longer.
