Arkansans will no longer be able to buy candy or sodas with Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, also referred to as food stamps, under a new waiver signed by U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins in June 2025.
Healthy Choices
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ administration submitted the waiver to ban soft drinks, candy, and other unhealthy beverages from the program, which will go into effect soon. The state Department of Human Services has launched a mobile application, called AR SNAP Companion, that allows food stamp recipients to scan products while shopping and instantly determine whether an item is eligible for purchase using SNAP benefits.
According to the state, more than one-third of Arkansans have diabetes or pre-diabetes, and roughly 40% of adults struggle with obesity. Research from Stanford University found that restricting sugary beverages from SNAP purchases could prevent approximately 141,000 cases of childhood obesity and 240,000 cases of Type 2 diabetes among adults nationwide.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
