In April 2025, two American states—Arkansas and Indiana—took a big step to improve public health. Both states asked the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for permission to ban the purchase of junk food using SNAP benefits. SNAP, also known as food stamps, is a program that helps low-income families buy groceries.
The governors of these states, Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas and Mike Braun of Indiana, believe that the current rules of the program are not helping people eat healthy. They say that allowing junk food under SNAP is making health problems like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease worse.
What Are SNAP Benefits?
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) helps millions of low-income people in the U.S. buy food every month. The amount a family gets depends on how many people are in the house, their income, and where they live.
In 2025, the maximum monthly SNAP benefits in most U.S. states are:
- 1 person: $292
- 2 people: $536
- 3 people: $768
- 4 people: $975
- 5 people: $1,158
- 6 people: $1,390
- 7 people: $1,536
- 8 people: $1,756
For each additional person, $220 is added. These amounts are higher in places like Alaska and Hawaii because of the higher cost of living.
Why Are These States Making Changes?
Governor Sanders of Arkansas said the current SNAP rules are “fueling obesity, diabetes, and chronic disease.” She pointed out that under the present rules, people can buy a soda or a chocolate bar from a gas station using SNAP, but not a healthy, hot roast chicken from the supermarket. She also shared that Arkansas spends about $300 million a year on treating diseases caused by poor diets through Medicaid.
Her proposal includes banning:
- All sodas, including diet sodas
- Juices with less than 50% real fruit
- Candy such as Kit Kats
- Artificially sweetened food products
Interestingly, the new rules would allow the purchase of hot roast chicken with SNAP, which was previously not permitted. If the USDA approves these changes, they will start in July 2026. People will have 30 days to give their opinions before the final decision is made.
Indiana’s Approach Is Slightly Different
Governor Mike Braun of Indiana made a similar request to the USDA but did not propose any additions like roast chicken. His focus is on removing candy and sugary drinks from the list of items that can be bought with SNAP benefits.
He also wants to make other changes to the SNAP program:
- Stricter work requirements for people receiving benefits
- Better checks to confirm people’s income
- Fixing errors in payments
Governor Braun introduced his plan during a campaign called “Make Indiana Healthy Again.” He was joined by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and TV personality Dr. Oz, both of whom support this health-focused movement.
Support from Federal Leaders
Both Arkansas and Indiana’s proposals are supported by Brooke Rollins, the Secretary of Agriculture. She has said she will likely approve these requests. The changes also align with a national health plan called “Make America Healthy Again,” supported by President-elect Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is now Secretary of Health.
The main goal of these new plans is to make sure SNAP benefits are used to buy healthy food and not items that can lead to long-term health problems. Supporters believe this will reduce medical costs and help low-income families eat better. But these proposals are still waiting for final approval from the USDA, and people have a chance to share their views before the rules change in July 2026.
These changes could mark a big shift in how the U.S. supports food aid, focusing more on nutrition and public health than ever before.