Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs The recently appointed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has signaled his intention to cut “junk” food purchases from being purchased using SNAP benefits.Why It MattersSNAP benefits—commonly known as “food stamps”—are administered nationwide to low- and no-income households that would otherwise struggle to afford groceries. In 2023, the program served an average of 42.1 million people per month—some 12.6 percent of U.S. residents. On average, SNAP recipients will receive an estimated $187 per month (or about $6.16 per day) per person in regular SNAP benefits in fiscal year 2025.The benefit can be used for “any food or food product intended for human consumption,” except alcohol, tobacco and hot foods, including those prepared for immediate consumption. Critics argue that SNAP’s allowance for purchasing sugary snacks, soda and junk food promotes unhealthy eating habits, which can lead to obesity and other related health issues.What To KnowSince being appointed to the Trump administration as head of Health and Human Services (HHS) earlier this month, Kennedy has made it clear he is in favor of stripping unhealthy foods from SNAP.”The one place that I would say that we need to really change policy is the SNAP program and food stamps and in school lunches,” Kennedy told Fox News. “There, the federal government in many cases is paying for it. And we shouldn’t be subsidizing people to eat poison.”Newsweek has contacted the HHS for comment via email.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. listens as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks before Kennedy is sworn in as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Oval Office at the White House on February 13, 2025…
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. listens as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks before Kennedy is sworn in as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Oval Office at the White House on February 13, 2025 in Washington, DC.
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Can Kennedy Ban Junk Food Purchases From SNAP?The SNAP program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which is its own government agency and is not run by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which Kennedy heads. But Agriculture Department head Brooke Rollins has also confirmed she is willing to work with Kennedy on making the proposed changes.Other Republican lawmakers agree, and are working at state level to see unhealthy purchases become ineligible. Kentucky Representative Matt Lockett and Idaho Republican Representative Jordan Redman have both proposed bills that would eliminate unhealthy foods from being purchased with benefits.What Is Classed As “Junk” Food?”Junk food” generally refers to foods that have lots of calories, particularly foods high in macronutrients such as sugar and fat, but little nutritional value.Kennedy has not outlined exactly what types of foods he would like to see become ineligible for purchase. Meanwhile, Texas Representative Keith Self has introduced legislation to prohibit purchasing carbonated drinks with more than 1 gram of added sugar with SNAP benefits.What People Are SayingAccording to a report by Fortune, Rollins said: “When a taxpayer is putting money into SNAP, are they OK with us using their tax dollars to feed really bad food and sugary drinks to children who perhaps need something more nutritious? These are all massive questions we’re going to be asking and working on in the coming months and years.”The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said in January 2025 that limiting SNAP purchases would “add misguided restrictions on the types of foods participants can buy, creating stigma for low-income families and costly red tape for program administrators, retailers, and participants.”What’s NextOn a national level, excluding any food types would require Congress to change the law. States have the option to request waivers to allow for flexibility, although such a waiver has never been granted.
