TALLAHASSEE, Florida – Florida has received federal approval to restrict the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for certain junk food items. The U.S. Department of Agriculture granted waivers to Florida and five other states—Colorado, West Virginia, Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma—adding to six previously approved states: Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, and Utah.
The restrictions, set to take effect on January 1, 2026, apply to over 3.5 million SNAP recipients in Florida. Florida’s adult obesity rate is around 30%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Under Florida’s SNAP waiver, the following items are banned from purchase using benefits:
A recent WalletHub study has examined obesity across the United States, with four Florida cities—Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa, and Miami—appearing on the list of the nation’s most overweight and obese metro areas in 2025.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the waivers on social media, stating he stood with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary as the waivers were signed. Kennedy called on governors to join the effort to “Make America Healthy Again.”
“For years, SNAP has used taxpayer dollars to fund soda and candy—products that fuel America’s diabetes and chronic disease epidemics,” said HHS Secretary Kennedy.
“These waivers help put real food back at the center of the program and empower states to lead the charge in protecting public health. I thank these governors who have stepped up to request waivers, and I encourage others to follow their lead. This is how we Make America Healthy Again.”
SNAP serves about 42 million Americans, with annual spending exceeding $70 billion, according to USDA data.
With 12 states now approved, Florida’s waiver focuses on the Southeast, where obesity rates are high.
However, this junk food ban faces opposition from several quarters:
Beverage and food companies like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo argue against these restrictions, emphasizing that they offer healthier options and that limiting consumer choice might not lead to health improvements but could instead create a two-tiered system based on income.
Advocacy groups and some public health experts contend that such restrictions could complicate SNAP’s administration and might not significantly improve dietary health without addressing broader food access issues. They argue for a focus on increasing access to nutritious foods rather than limiting choices.
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