A federal judge on Monday blocked the Trump administration from allowing five states to ban the purchase of sugary drinks and candy with food stamps. The decision is a major setback for Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement, which is focused on minimizing the consumption of ultraprocessed foods to reduce the prevalence of chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes.

Background

The US Department of Agriculture had granted waiver requests by nearly two dozen states to restrict food purchases in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, the formal name for food stamps. The five states involved in the lawsuit – Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia – had sought to change the federal definition of food to one that restricted certain products.

The five food stamp enrollees who brought the suit argued they need to buy the restricted items for their health and wellness — describing some of the drinks as necessary to address Type 1 diabetes, kidney issues, and lack of energy. US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson in the District of Columbia ruled that the US Department of Agriculture lacked the authority to approve state waivers in pilot projects.

Reaction

The judge noted the authority the USDA is relying on allows the agency to enact pilot projects to test the efficiency of the SNAP program but does not include improving the health and diet of recipients. One of the law firms that brought the case said the ruling “is a major step in restoring essential food assistance to the millions of families that rely on SNAP nationwide.”

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.