O n May 19th, Nebraska was granted the first waiver allowing a state to prohibit purchases of soda and energy drinks through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or food stamps. A few days later, waivers were approved for Indiana and Iowa to be able to exclude soda and candy, and soon after, waivers were granted for Arkansas, Idaho, and Utah. Waiver requests from several other states are waiting for approval.
Through the years, the idea of not using SNAP to subsidize soda and candy has had bipartisan support. And the recent efforts to use SNAP to incentivize healthier eating are the latest sign of a rapid culture shift to get at the root causes of the epidemic of chronic diseases, which in large part is fueled by what we eat and drink.
We’re now approaching a tipping point that puts actual systemic changes in reach — changes that would improve the lives of millions of people. Momentum is picking up, and it’s time to recognize that healthy eating, the desire for good health — for ourselves and for our children — is not a partisan issue…