A federal judge has ruled that the government cannot block benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from being used to buy candy, soda, and other sugary drinks. This ruling scuttles restrictions that were in place or planned in 23 states.

Background

The restrictions were part of the Make America Healthy Again campaign, which was encouraged by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The campaign aimed to limit what food aid could be used to buy, but the judge ruled that this move was not lawful.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson stated that the ruling was not a comment on whether the restrictions were a good idea, but rather that the government had violated the law and its own regulations. The judge noted that the federal defendants and states may have a genuine desire to improve the health of SNAP households, but they must take lawful steps to meet those goals.

Legal Basis

The main legal misstep in restricting what SNAP benefits could buy came because it ran contrary to Congress’s definition of ‘food.’ Under the law, SNAP benefits can be used for ‘any food or food product for home consumption except alcoholic beverages, tobacco, hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption.’ The government can waive requirements, but limiting use of the benefits to improve nutrition is not listed as a reason to do so.

Original reporting: WTVQ (Lexington) — read the source article.