Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Health and Human Services Secretary, is spearheading a movement to overhaul the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by eliminating taxpayer-funded subsidies for unhealthy foods, particularly soda. Kennedy, a longtime advocate for public health, has labeled soda as “poison” and is determined to stop federal funds from being used to purchase sugar-laden, ultra-processed products that contribute to obesity, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.
SNAP, which supports over 42 million Americans, has traditionally allowed recipients to purchase soft drinks more than any other item. A 2016 USDA analysis found that soda, followed by milk and ground beef, was the top product bought with SNAP benefits. Kennedy sees this as a national crisis, arguing that it is illogical for taxpayers to spend billions of dollars subsidizing the very products that drive up healthcare costs and worsen public health outcomes.
His push for reform has gained support from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Rollins has publicly questioned why SNAP funds should be used for “really bad food and sugary drinks,” while Sanders has formally petitioned the USDA for permission to restrict the purchase of soda, candy, and other processed foods with SNAP benefits. In her appeal, she highlighted that nearly 23%—or $25 billion—of all SNAP purchases go toward junk food, exacerbating America’s diet-related health crisis.
Kennedy’s stance puts him at odds with President Donald Trump, a well-known Diet Coke enthusiast, who recently reinstated the famous red button in the Oval Office to summon fresh cans of his favorite drink. While Trump enjoys his soda, Kennedy remains committed to reshaping the nation’s food policies to promote long-term health.
Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative aligns with growing concerns over ultra-processed foods and their impact on public well-being. If his efforts succeed, SNAP could undergo its most significant reform in decades, prioritizing nutritious food choices and ensuring that taxpayer dollars no longer fuel America’s obesity and chronic disease epidemic.
With bipartisan support growing for these reforms, Kennedy’s war on soda could mark the beginning of a major shift in U.S. nutrition policy – one that prioritizes health over corporate interests and junk food addiction.
