In April 2025, two U.S. states—Arkansas and Indiana—took a bold step to improve public health. Their governors asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for permission to ban certain unhealthy food items from being bought using SNAP benefits, also known as food stamps. These programs help low-income families buy groceries. But now, state leaders want to make sure the food being bought is actually healthy.
What Are SNAP Benefits?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps low-income individuals and families buy food. People get a monthly amount of money through a special card to spend on groceries. But until now, SNAP allowed many kinds of food, including items like sodas and candies that are not good for health.
Why Are These States Asking for a Ban?
Governors Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas and Mike Braun of Indiana want to reduce the number of people suffering from health problems like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. They believe that banning junk food from SNAP will encourage healthier eating habits.
Governor Sanders pointed out that it makes no sense that someone can buy a soft drink or chocolate at a gas station with food stamps, but not a hot, healthy rotisserie chicken from a grocery store. That’s why she’s also asking to allow some hot foods like roast chicken to be included in SNAP purchases.
What Foods Do They Want to Ban?
If approved by the USDA, the new rules will go into effect in July 2026. People will have 30 days to share their opinions before the final decision is made. The items they want to ban include:
- Regular and diet sodas
- Juices with less than 50% real fruit
- Candy like Kit Kat and other sweets
- Artificially sweetened foods
At the same time, Arkansas is asking to add items like hot roasted chicken, which was not allowed before under SNAP.
Indiana’s Proposal is Similar but Simpler
Governor Mike Braun of Indiana also wants to remove soda and candy from SNAP benefits. However, he did not include anything about adding hot meals. His plan also includes other changes, like:
- Making sure people are actually eligible
- Requiring more people to work to get benefits
- Reducing errors in the SNAP payment system
He introduced this plan during an event called “Make Indiana Healthy Again” with well-known names like Dr. Oz and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Strong Support from the USDA
The proposals from both states have support from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. She has shown interest in allowing states to make such decisions. The move fits with a national plan called “Make America Healthy Again,” which is supported by President-elect Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
SNAP Benefit Amounts for 2025
The amount of money a person or family receives from SNAP depends on several things—how many people are in the household, the family’s income, and where they live. Here are the maximum SNAP amounts for 2025 in the 48 mainland states and Washington D.C.:
1 person: $292
2 people: $536
3 people: $768
4 people: $975
5 people: $1,158
6 people: $1,390
7 people: $1,536
8 people: $1,756
Each extra person: $220
States like Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the Virgin Islands have higher limits due to the higher cost of living.
The new proposals from Arkansas and Indiana show a shift in how U.S. states are thinking about public health and welfare programs. Instead of just giving people access to food, these states want to make sure that the food supports a healthier lifestyle.
While these plans may face criticism, they also highlight the growing concern about health problems caused by unhealthy eating. If approved, these changes could set an example for other states looking to reform how SNAP benefits are used.
