Nebraska First to Ban Soda Purchases with SNAP Benefits

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska has become the first state to receive a federal waiver that bans the purchase of soda and energy drinks using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This decision, announced on May 19, 2025, by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, affects about 152,000 residents enrolled in SNAP, traditionally known as food stamps.

Governor Jim Pillen expressed strong support for the initiative, stating, “There’s absolutely zero reason for taxpayers to be subsidizing purchases of soda and energy drinks. SNAP is 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.” This waiver will take effect on January 1, 2026.

Alongside Nebraska, six other states—Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Indiana, Iowa, and West Virginia—have applied for similar waivers to ban certain foods or expand access to hot foods for SNAP participants, according to the USDA.

Supporters of the ban argue that it is a step towards promoting healthier diets, while critics, including anti-hunger advocates, warn that it could increase stigma and administrative burdens for families already facing food insecurity. Gina Plata-Nino, a deputy director at the Food Research & Action Center, stated, “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.”

The SNAP program is a $100 billion initiative supporting approximately 42 million Americans and focuses on alleviating food insecurity among low-income individuals. Professor Kate Bauer from the University of Michigan emphasized that such restrictions may deepen the stigma faced by SNAP recipients, harming their mental and physical well-being.

As states consider similar restrictions, it remains unclear if these measures will significantly alter purchasing behavior or improve health outcomes for program beneficiaries. Rollins characterized the waiver as “a historic step to Make America Healthy again,” highlighting concerns over rising childhood obesity and chronic health conditions.

The approval for Nebraska sets a potentially significant precedent in rethinking what constitutes eligible food items under SNAP, allowing states to redefine their food assistance policies.