The shift toward restricting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to exclude “junk food” like candy and soda is an initiative that, on the surface, appears to align with the goal of improving public health. Proponents argue that taxpayer dollars should prioritize nutrition over empty calories. However, a closer look at the current implementation reveals that these changes—spearheaded by the Trump administration through broad state-level waivers—may be more disruptive than beneficial. While promoting healthy eating is a noble goal, the current approach lacks sufficient scientific backing, threatens the economic stability of retailers, and risks raising food prices for all consumers.
