Eight in 10 congressional staffers believe soda should not be eligible for purchase under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), according to a survey released March 2. The findings come as several states move to restrict soft drinks, candy, and other “junk food” from the federal program, which serves about 42 million Americans.
The poll revealed sharp partisan divides: 94% of right-leaning staffers said soda should not qualify for SNAP benefits, compared with 32% of left-leaning staffers who said the same. Age also played a role, with younger staffers more likely to oppose the eligibility of soda products. Sixty-four percent of respondents over 30 opposed soda eligibility, and 36% said soda should remain eligible, indicating that those under 30 pushed the opposition much higher. The survey was conducted by HillFaith, a nonpartisan organization focused on data-driven insights from congressional staff who help shape policy.
“As debates over the Farm Bill and SNAP modernization continue to circulate through committee hearings, these insights offer a unique window into the private opinions of the legislative aides who help shape and write these policies,” HillFaith said in a press release distributed through PRNewswire.
The organization noted that SNAP “junk food” rules are an ongoing debate. Supporters of restrictions argue that “taxpayer dollars should not subsidize products tied to obesity and diabetes, while opponents argue that defining ‘junk food’ is unworkable and intrusive,” HillFaith said in the release.
The high percentage of staffers opposing soda eligibility “points to a growing public-health mindset on the Hill and hints at future efforts to tighten SNAP rules,” according to HillFaith.
The results also come as several states move forward with food restrictions while Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins push to remove foods deemed unhealthy from the roughly $100 billion federal program.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 18 states have received approval for waivers that take effect this year and restrict certain items under SNAP, such as soda and energy drinks.
Such bans have already taken effect in Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Utah, and West Virginia. Additional states with similar measures set to take effect later this year include Arkansas on July 1, Colorado on April 30, Florida on April 20, Hawaii on Aug. 1, Missouri on Oct. 1, North Dakota on Sept. 1, South Carolina on Aug. 31, Tennessee on July 31, Texas on April 1, and Virginia on Oct. 1.
Other states are weighing similar proposals. In South Dakota, HB 1056 — which would require the state Department of Social Services to submit a federal waiver to exclude soft drinks from SNAP — passed both legislative chambers in February and awaits Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden’s signature. In Alabama, a Senate committee advanced a similar measure in February that would bar candy and soda purchases under the program.