SNAP restrictions cut soda sales but raise stigma concerns, study finds
Banning people from using food stamps to buy sugary drinks helps lower consumption, proponents say. Are such restrictions a good idea?
A government initiative in the Trump administration encouraging Americans on food stamps to avoid buying soda is beginning to take effect, according to a new study. In the first half of 2026, those receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits reduced their purchases of sugary drinks by more than 12%, which translates to about 34 fewer 12-ounce cans of soda per year, according to the study by experts from the University of Chicago, MIT, and Stanford University.
This reduction in soda consumption could have significant health benefits, as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been advocating for the reduction of sugary drink consumption. The study, which analyzed the purchasing behavior of 15,000 SNAP households, found that the ban on SNAP purchases of sugary drinks led to a sustained decrease in soda consumption, even six months after the restrictions were implemented.
However, the study also found that the restrictions may lead to a sense of stigma among SNAP recipients, which could potentially offset some of the health benefits.
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