Overview

• Tennessee’s waiver proposal would bar items listing sugar or high-fructose sweeteners as a primary ingredient and carbonated sweetened beverages from SNAP purchases
• South Carolina’s governor plans to direct the Department of Social Services to seek a waiver imposing limits on unhealthy SNAP purchases, though specific items have not been detailed
• If granted, these requests would bring to 14 the number of states piloting MAHA waivers restricting sugar-sweetened drinks, candy and other high-sugar, high-sodium foods
• USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has praised the waivers for promoting healthier options among the program’s 42 million users even as critics warn of stigma, administrative burdens and weak evidence of health benefits
• Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. Josh Brecheen have introduced the Healthy SNAP Act to make junk food bans permanent nationwide