Oklahoma Requests Soda, Candy Be Excluded From Food Stamp Purchases

Oklahoma has requested federal permission to exclude soft drinks and candy from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. Governor Kevin Stitt made the announcement as part of his "Make Oklahoma Healthy Again" campaign, which is a state-level extension of the national "Make America Healthy Again" movement. The campaign aims to promote healthy eating habits and reduce chronic illnesses. Oklahoma is the latest state to seek to remove sugary items from the federal program, joining Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, West Virginia, and Utah. The move is part of a growing bipartisan concern about the link between processed food consumption and chronic illnesses. The American Beverage Association has opposed the move, arguing that it won't make a difference in health outcomes. However, data shows that soft drinks are the number one food commodity by expenditure in the SNAP program. The waivers come after President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing the "Make America Healthy Again" commission to tackle America's escalating health crisis. The commission is tasked with investigating and addressing the root causes of the crisis, with an initial focus on childhood chronic diseases. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that while individuals should have the right to choose what they drink, the federal government should not pay for unhealthy choices with taxpayer money.