U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called on every state governor to exclude sugary drinks from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) initiative, according to a June 10 statement from the Department of Agriculture (USDA).
SNAP food stamp beneficiaries get a card similar to a debit card, into which benefits are automatically transferred every month. The card is used to buy groceries at authorized outlets.
RFK Jr.’s statement came at an event where Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins signed three waivers restricting the purchase of sugary items under the SNAP program in Arkansas, Idaho, and Utah. Rollins previously had signed waivers for Indiana, Iowa, and Nebraska….