06/23/2026
Federal Judge Blocks SNAP Soda and Candy Bans, Raising Questions Over State Waivers, Food Policy, and Congressional Authority
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has ruled that the federal government cannot allow states to block SNAP benefits from being used to buy candy, soda, and other sugary drinks, dealing a major setback to a growing state-by-state effort tied to the “Make America Healthy Again” campaign.
The ruling, issued Monday, June 22, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, halted restrictions already in place or planned across 23 states. The decision does not say soda and candy are healthy. It says the U.S. Department of Agriculture exceeded its authority by approving state waivers that narrowed the federal definition of “food.”
At the center of the case is SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps. Federal law defines eligible food broadly as “any food or food product for home consumption,” with specific exclusions for alcohol, to***co, hot foods, and hot prepared foods ready for immediate consumption.
Judge Jackson ruled that USDA could not use waiver authority to rewrite that definition. In short, if Congress wrote the rule, an agency cannot change it by approving state pilot projects.
The lawsuit, Aragon v. Rollins, was filed March 11, 2026, by SNAP recipients from Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia. The plaintiffs argued that the restrictions caused real harm, especially for people managing medical conditions, food insecurity, diabetes, restrictive eating disorders, or limited access to prepared meals and stable housing.
The case also exposed a larger issue: the SNAP restrictions were not uniform. Different states banned different products. Some targeted soda only. Others targeted candy, energy drinks, prepared foods, or broad categories tied to state tax definitions. Critics said that created confusion for recipients, retailers, and cashiers.
Oklahoma was part of the broader waiver movement. USDA approved Oklahoma’s request on Aug. 4, 2025, allowing the state to exclude candy and soft drinks from SNAP purchases. Oklahoma later adjusted its implementation date to Feb. 15, 2026, to give retailers more time to update systems.
Supporters argued the restrictions would promote public health, reduce taxpayer-funded purchases of sugary products, and address obesity, diabetes, and chronic disease. Opponents argued the policy singled out poor families, created a confusing checkout system, and tried to accomplish through agency waivers what Congress had not authorized.
The court sided with the challengers on the legal question. The ruling vacated USDA approval letters for the challenged state waivers and undercut similar restrictions nationwide.
The administration has not clearly said whether it will appeal. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins criticized the ruling publicly and said the administration would keep fighting for restrictions on SNAP purchases of soda and junk food.
For now, the ruling restores the long-standing federal baseline: SNAP benefits may be used for most food products intended for home consumption, except the exclusions already written into federal law.
Timeline
1964: The federal Food Stamp Program is created.
2008: The Food Stamp Program is renamed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Federal law continues to define eligible food broadly.
Before 2025: USDA had historically resisted state efforts to ban “junk food” from SNAP, citing federal definitions, administrative complexity, and retailer burden.
April 2025: Arkansas and Indiana formally seek USDA permission to restrict soda and candy purchases through SNAP.
June 10, 2025: Oklahoma submits its waiver request to USDA.
Aug. 4, 2025: USDA approves Oklahoma’s waiver request to exclude candy and soft drinks from SNAP purchases.
Late 2025: More states receive USDA approval for similar food restriction waivers.
Jan. 1, 2026: SNAP restrictions take effect in several states, including Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah, and West Virginia.
Feb. 15, 2026: Oklahoma’s SNAP Healthy Foods Waiver takes effect after an implementation delay.
March 11, 2026: SNAP recipients file Aragon v. Rollins in federal court, challenging USDA’s approval of food restriction waivers.
May 1, 2026: Judge Amy Berman Jackson hears arguments.
June 22, 2026: Judge Jackson rules USDA exceeded its authority and blocks the restrictions.
June 23, 2026: National outlets report the ruling, and the administration signals continued support for restricting soda and junk food purchases through SNAP.
This case is not mainly about whether soda is healthy. It is about who has the legal authority to decide what SNAP can buy: Congress, USDA, or individual states acting through federal waivers.
For now, the court’s answer is clear: Congress wrote the definition, and USDA cannot rewrite it by waiver.
