LITTLE ROCK, Ark.— Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ waiver to ban soft drinks and candy from Arkansas’ Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), also referred to as food stamps, will go into effect on July 1, 2026. The waiver was submitted to the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) in April 2025 and signed by U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins in June 2025.
“It is crazy that hardworking taxpayers pay for the soft drinks and junk food that make people unhealthy and then pay for the healthcare those people need to get better. Arkansas is fixing that broken system,” said Governor Sanders. “Government programs need to recognize the link between nutrition and health, which is why Arkansas is leading with common sense and making this long overdue change to our food stamp program.”
"This program will help SNAP beneficiaries make more nutritious choices, and that's a key step toward improving health outcomes all across our state," said Department of Human Services Secretary Janet Mann. "Bettering the health of our citizens is an essential part of our mission, and we are grateful to Governor Sanders and the partners who have helped us implement this important program."
Arkansas’ comprehensive reform plan is among the first in the nation to restore food stamps’ focus on nutrition. Under the waiver, SNAP benefits can no longer be used to purchase soft drinks, including low- and no-calorie sodas, fruit and vegetable drinks containing less than 50% natural juice, candy, and other unhealthy beverages.
To help participants navigate these changes and streamline the purchase process, DHS has launched a mobile application that allows food stamp recipients to scan products while shopping and instantly determine whether an item is eligible for purchase using SNAP benefits. The application is available for both Apple and Android devices.
Nationally, soft drinks, desserts, candy, and other unhealthy products account for 23% of all SNAP purchases, totaling $27 billion annually. Studies have consistently found a strong correlation between the consumption of junk food and poor health, linking these purchasing patterns to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and a wide range of chronic health conditions in Arkansas and across the nation.
The consequences are especially significant in Arkansas. More than one-third of Arkansans have diabetes or pre-diabetes, the state has the second-highest diabetes mortality rate in the country, and roughly 40% of adults struggle with obesity. These chronic health conditions disproportionately impact low-income families – the very populations SNAP was designed to support. The costs extend beyond individual health outcomes. Arkansas Medicaid alone spends at least $300 million annually treating chronic conditions.
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.
Governor Sanders has prioritized improving health outcomes across Arkansas through a broader set of nutrition-focused initiatives. Last year, the Governor signed legislation providing every Arkansas student with free school breakfast and later launched the Arkansas Plate Initiative, connecting schools with Arkansas farmers and producers to expand access to nutritious, locally sourced foods. These efforts complement the Arkansas Rice in Schools program, strengthening the connection between Arkansas agriculture, student nutrition, and healthier communities.
Earlier this year, Governor Sanders launched the #RazorbackReady2026 challenge to promote the Presidential Fitness Test and encourage healthier, more active lifestyles among Arkansas students. President Donald J. Trump’s executive order reestablishing the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition and restoring the Presidential Fitness Test renewed a national focus on improving the health and well-being of America’s youth, building on the work of the Make America Healthy Again Commission.
One of the commission’s primary initiatives is the ‘Eat Real Food’ campaign, built around a simple principle: real food restores health.
A copy of the waiver is linked here, and a copy of the Governor’s letter accompanying the waiver is linked here.
