Governor Greg Abbott is asking the federal government for permission to prohibit the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for purchasing junk food in Texas, marking a significant step in a growing nationwide debate over nutritional standards in federal food aid programs.
In a letter sent to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins this week, Abbott formally requested a waiver that would allow Texas to block the purchase of “unhealthy, highly processed food” with SNAP benefits. The move aligns Texas with at least 10 other Republican-led states that are pushing similar reforms aimed at curbing the use of taxpayer-funded assistance for items such as candy, sweetened beverages, and other low-nutrient foods.
“SNAP was created to increase access to nutritious food; however, many SNAP purchases are for food with little to no nutritious value,” Abbott wrote in the letter, citing data showing that more than 3.2 million Texans rely on SNAP assistance, which amounted to over $7 billion in benefits last year alone.
A National Trend Toward SNAP Reform
Texas joins a growing list of states advocating for stricter regulations on SNAP spending. According to recent data, candy accounts for 2.1% of SNAP purchases, prepared desserts for 6.9%, and sweetened beverages for 9.3%, totaling over 18% of SNAP expenditures on what many health experts deem non-nutritive or detrimental to long-term health.
The debate has intensified in recent months as both state and federal officials raise concerns about SNAP's role in fueling poor dietary habits and subsequent health issues.
Just weeks ago, a coalition of Texas House members sent a similar letter to Secretary Rollins, urging nutritional reforms to address “waste, fraud, and abuse” in the program. Among their recommendations: enforce clearer nutritional standards for what items are eligible for purchase under SNAP.
Legislative Action Underway
At the state level, House Bill 379, authored by Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston), is advancing through the legislature. The bill seeks to explicitly bar SNAP funds from being used to buy sugary soft drinks and other products considered to have minimal or no nutritional value.
“The goal isn’t to micromanage what people eat,” Middleton said in a recent hearing, “but to ensure that government aid promotes health, not harm.”
Federal Support and Broader Implications
Secretary Rollins has previously indicated support for tighter nutritional guidelines within SNAP. Speaking at a public health forum, she noted that sugary drinks are among the top items purchased with SNAP dollars — a fact she described as “deeply concerning.”
“We’re using taxpayer dollars to subsidize the very products that contribute to diabetes and heart disease in our most vulnerable communities,” Rollins said. “That’s not what the program was intended for.”
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. echoed that sentiment, warning of the financial and moral consequences of allowing SNAP to continue subsidizing unhealthy foods.
“We are paying for the food — or the ‘food-like substances’ — that make people sick, and then we’re paying even more for the treatments,” Kennedy said. “It’s a cycle that’s both existential and unsustainable.”
Looking Ahead
If approved, Texas would become one of the first states in the nation to formally implement restrictions on SNAP purchases of junk food — a move likely to stir both praise and controversy. Advocates argue that such reforms are necessary to curb obesity and diet-related illnesses in low-income populations. Critics, however, warn that it could lead to stigmatization and undue restrictions on personal choice.
Whether Rollins grants Texas the requested waiver remains to be seen, but the issue is clearly gaining traction on the national stage — and could mark a turning point in the future of SNAP policy.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
