Robert F. Kennedy Jr. just announced that he will help states put a restriction on food stamps, also known as SNAP benefits, to ban soda purchases.

At an event with RFK Jr. today, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey said that he will be seeking permission from the federal government to ban food stamps from being used to buy soda.

“Taxpayer dollars should be targeted toward nutritious foods,” Gov. Morrisey stated.

RFK Jr. responded by encouraging state governors to follow suit.

“Apply for a waiver to my agency,” RFK Jr. told them, “and we’re going to give it to you.”

Watch here:

#BREAKING: RFK Jr. has just announced the Trump Admin will now allow states to BAN food stamps (SNAP) from be used for soda

HUGE win for MAHA, MASSIVE loss for Big Soda!

“We’re not eating food – we’re eating food-like substances,” RFK Jr. said

“It’s called the Supplementary… pic.twitter.com/AtkZVqOg8s

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) March 28, 2025

The Washington Post has more details on how this ban could be implemented:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s quest to reshape food policy in America took him to an event here with the state’s Republican governor, who announced Friday his intent to seek the federal government’s help in barring the use of food stamps to buy soda.

“Taxpayer dollars should be targeted toward nutritious foods,” Gov. Patrick Morrisey said at a lectern emblazoned with a “MAHA Starts Here” sign.

Kennedy, the nation’s top health official, has made new restrictions on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) a key pillar of his Make America Healthy Again agenda to tackle chronic disease and childhood illness. He and his allies have argued that federal dollars shouldn’t go toward purchasing products they say are major drivers of poor health and obesity, and lawmakers in more than a dozen statehouses are considering similar bills.

Anti-hunger advocates typically oppose the proposal, contending it amounts to punishing the poor by taking choices away from them. The effort has also been met with fierce resistance from the beverage industry, which is lobbying against the plans.

“What’s unhelpful about this whole conversation is that soda is not driving obesity,” said Merideth Potter, senior vice president at the American Beverage Association, the industry’s lobbying group. “We’ve become this easy punching bag.”

Standing inside a school gym in West Virginia on Friday, Kennedy said he had a message for governors around the country: “Get in line behind Governor Morrisey,” he said. “Apply for a waiver to my agency, and we’re going to give it to you.”

While states will need to get federal permission to implement the ban, it’s the U.S. Department of Agriculture led by Secretary Brooke Rollins — and not Kennedy’s health department — that administers SNAP and approves waivers to make changes to the program.

“I look forward to receiving Governor Morrisey’s SNAP pilot request and will work swiftly to make certain West Virginia is equipped with the technical assistance and expertise to move forward,” Rollins, who was not at the event, said in a statement.

Calley Means, a White House senior adviser, said Kennedy is discussing proposals to ban soda in SNAP with more than 15 governors.

“We’re not saying anyone can’t drink Coke,” Means told reporters. “We’re saying no government subsidies for Coke.”

What do you think?

Do you support a ban on soda purchases using food stamps?

Would you like to see it happen in your state?

Let us know your thoughts!