Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Friday that the Trump administration had granted permission to West Virginia to ban the use of federal food assistance dollars to buy soft drinks. At an event in Martinsburg, WV, RFK Jr. gave West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrissey a first-of-its-kind waiver to permit the ban and had a message for the rest of the country: “Apply for a waiver to my agency, and we’re going to give it to you.” //

This marks a turning point in the battle between nutritional advocates and beverage manufacturers and sellers over whether SNAP dollars should be used to buy soft drinks.

Soft drinks are the top item purchased with SNAP benefits.

Soft Drinks
Fluid Milk
Ground Beef
Bag Snacks
Cheese
Baked Breads
Cold Cereal
Fresh Chicken
Frozen Handhelds and Snacks
Lunchmeat
Candy
Infant Formula
Frozen Pizza
Refrigerated Juices/Drinks
Ice Cream
Coffee and Creamers. //

Personally, I think the framing of this issue as a "government overreach" or "rights" argument is the height of dishonesty. SNAP benefits, as the name indicates, are "supplemental" to the normal food budget. The money is a government benefit and it has the right to decide what that benefit can be used for. If you want to buy candy and soft drinks, go right ahead, but use your own money. The other major nutritional program, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, also known as WIC, already prohibits soft drink purchases, and the sky didn't fall in.