Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has formally requested that the incoming Trump administration remove junk food from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In a letter addressed to Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary nominee Brooke Rollins, Sanders emphasized the detrimental impact of unhealthy food choices on low-income families who rely on SNAP benefits.
Sanders highlighted the alarming statistic that almost a quarter of SNAP purchases, totaling $25 billion, are spent on soda, unhealthy snacks, candy, and desserts. She argued that this contributes to widespread health issues like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, particularly among lower-income populations. Drawing from her personal experience as a mother of three, Sanders stressed the importance of improving maternal and child health outcomes, noting that a significant portion of Arkansas residents struggle with diabetes, pre-diabetes, and obesity.
The governor cited research by Stanford Professor Jayanta Bhattacharya, who has been nominated to lead the National Institutes of Health, indicating that excluding sugary drinks and snacks from SNAP could significantly reduce childhood obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Sanders also advocated for supporting local farmers by encouraging the purchase of Arkansas-grown produce, poultry, and other healthy food items.
She expressed her intention to seek a waiver from the USDA to prioritize fresh produce, eggs, and protein within the SNAP program while prohibiting the purchase of junk food. Sanders concluded her letter with the slogan, "Make America Healthy Again," echoing the Trump campaign's theme.
This initiative aligns with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s expressed concern about the prevalence of processed foods and their impact on children's health, suggesting that Sanders' proposal may find support within the incoming administration.
