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(171,612 posts) Thu Mar 12, 2026, 03:31 PM Mar 12

SNAP Recipients Fight Back In Junk Food Crackdown [View all]

Source: Newsweek

Published Mar 12, 2026 at 06:43 AM EDT updated Mar 12, 2026 at 08:35 AM EDT

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients have filed a lawsuit against the federal government, arguing that new restrictions on what they can purchase with the benefits are unlawful and harmful to people who rely on the program.

Five plaintiffs sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in federal court in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, seeking to halt and then overturn SNAP "waivers" that block benefits being used to purchase foods considered low in nutritional value, such as candy and as sugary drinks. The USDA told Newsweek on Thursday it will "not comment on pending litigation."

Why It Matters

New food restrictions waivers have been approved in 22 states, with several already implementing the new blocks. The changes impact millions of low- and no-income Americans who depend on benefits to buy groceries.

The case challenges a policy shift backed by officials in the Trump administration that supporters say is intended to promote healthier diets. The plaintiffs argue the restrictions make it harder for families to access food and manage health conditions, while also creating confusion for shoppers at grocery store checkouts.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/snap-recipients-fight-back-junk-food-ban-waiver-lawsuit-11664497

Link to SUIT (PDF viewer) is here

178 replies

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Highlight:

SNAP Recipients Fight Back In Junk Food Crackdown [View all] BumRushDaShow Mar 12 OP

Sugar may not be the main problem bucolic_frolic Mar 12 #1

see post 15 niyad Mar 12 #20

Just give them the fucking money. They spend more money "discussing" it than it costs. twodogsbarking Mar 12 #2

It is, and always has been, about control, shaming, and, to a great degree, misogyny, niyad Mar 12 #11

That is what emotion Ai is for! jfz9580m Mar 13 #53

the money spent investigating and verifying "means tests" rampartd Mar 14 #101

My sympathies would revolve around a better understanding of "access food", "manage health conditions" and...... FadedMullet Mar 12 #3

Do we get a say in what type of food the military is served? choie Mar 12 #5

That's exactly why orangecrush Mar 14 #116

These rules would prevent a family from using SNAP to buy a birthday cake for their kids. SunSeeker Mar 12 #9

Me too... SomewhereInTheMiddle Mar 19 #158

The cruelty is the point. yardwork Mar 21 #176

see post 15 niyad Mar 12 #19

Sure Cirsium Mar 14 #107

I don't know... Jacson6 Mar 12 #4

See post 15 niyad Mar 12 #21

I'll pay attention to the counter-arguments when healthy food Torchlight Mar 12 #6

You nailed it "when healthy food is as affordable as many junk foods" quaint Mar 12 #7

THANK YOU!!! niyad Mar 12 #18

In what world would high-quality anything be as affordable as junk? Oliver Bolliver Butt Mar 12 #28

A sane one? niyad Mar 12 #38

define 'junk' then Oliver Bolliver Butt Mar 12 #42

Anything I don't like. niyad Mar 12 #43

Oh, I don't know Cirsium Mar 14 #106

on that we agree! Oliver Bolliver Butt Mar 14 #110

Great Cirsium Mar 14 #111

In the same world that sealions move goalposts Torchlight Mar 13 #57

Oh, come on Cirsium Mar 13 #77

Did my post just get called ridiculous by someone claiming that "food is free"? Oliver Bolliver Butt Mar 13 #96

Correct Cirsium Mar 13 #97

this is why we lose elections Oliver Bolliver Butt Mar 13 #98

Oh, sure it is Cirsium Mar 13 #99

Nice bumper sticker Torchlight Mar 14 #100

You can't be serious. choie Mar 18 #154

Indeed! My point exactly Cirsium Mar 19 #160

And when healthy food is available moonscape Mar 12 #35

EXACTLY. see post 15. niyad Mar 12 #39

Who says they have to buy healthy food? EX500rider Mar 13 #63

You're arguing a point I neither made nor implied. Torchlight Mar 13 #65

Maybe you could acquaint yourself with some of the restrictions, niyad Mar 13 #70

There's certainly some self-righteous sanctimonious posting going on here EX500rider Mar 13 #74

ohhh myyyyyy. Our mileage does indeed vary. Thank you for confirming niyad Mar 13 #86

just so you know Skittles Mar 20 #169

yes and I don't think this stops them from buying that EX500rider Mar 20 #170

you seem to know a lot about "them" Skittles Mar 20 #171

I'm not against junk food restrictions but I support an increase in the amount provided as eating healthy isn't cheap. cstanleytech Mar 12 #8

See post 15. niyad Mar 12 #17

Many poor people lack kitchens in which to whip up those great recipes from scratch with all their helpful vitamins. CTyankee Mar 13 #54

This doesn't stop them from buying TV dinners and macaroni and cheese and other easy quick Foods EX500rider Mar 13 #64

Why do we get to be their food cop? CTyankee Mar 13 #66

If the taxpayer is footing the bill the taxpayer has some say EX500rider Mar 13 #67

I agree. How can we get at this problem as a society? CTyankee Mar 13 #72

How much healthy food do you think choie Mar 18 #155

I don't think this solution to that is live on candy bars and soda EX500rider Mar 19 #157

"Why do we get to be their food cop?" EX500rider Mar 20 #163

As taxpayers we pick up a lot of people who have unhealthy life styles for a lot of different reasons. CTyankee Mar 20 #165

But we don't have to underwrite or contribute to those unhealthy life styles IMO EX500rider Mar 20 #166

I may not like everything that a recipient of taxpayers' money chooses to eat. Offering healthy alternatives is an CTyankee Mar 21 #172

Easy quick foods - if you happen to have a working stove. Demobrat Mar 20 #161

I don't think the solution to "no stove" is live off candy & soda ymmv EX500rider Mar 20 #162

Why assume they're living off of it Demobrat Mar 20 #167

SNAP EX500rider Mar 20 #168

Yes which is why produce is a good area to provide more money to spend on as you don't need to cook salads. cstanleytech Mar 13 #68

A great point. The issue is how we get such foods to those who need, but can't afford to buy, those food items. CTyankee Mar 13 #73

Then offer a meal delivery plan for those ones. cstanleytech Mar 17 #142

That's a very sensible suggestion. Basicallly, a CARE box (I think we used to send those boxes to victims of disasters). CTyankee Mar 21 #173

Unless it involves blocks of the same cheese they gave out 40+ years ago as that is the opposite of care. cstanleytech Mar 21 #178

"The five plaintiffs--who live in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee and West Virginia..." BaronChocula Mar 12 #10

Really.?? What, exactly, are we to understand by that? niyad Mar 12 #12

With the exception of Colorado BaronChocula Mar 12 #13

Then why include Colorado? niyad Mar 12 #16

It was taken verbatim from the article BaronChocula Mar 12 #22

Thank you. niyad Mar 12 #23

... BaronChocula Mar 12 #24

Are people in those states less worthy of having food Bettie Mar 12 #26

The story they want to push with these restrictions, 70sEraVet Mar 12 #14

I think it's that taxpayer funded diabetes is a bad idea. pcdb Mar 12 #40

Do you seriously think ANY of this bs debate has to do with genuine concern niyad Mar 12 #44

Maybe not to Republicans pcdb Mar 12 #47

That isn't an either/or, regardless of how you frame it. Perhaps you niyad Mar 13 #49

What other issues? pcdb Mar 13 #89

Before I start screaming about the self-righteous sanctimony and niyad Mar 12 #15

But at what point is the line drawn? Polybius Mar 12 #37

Supplemental Nutrition. .last I checked, household items do not niyad Mar 12 #41

Ok, so we're in agreement Polybius Mar 14 #103

Starting April 1, Texas also will ban SNAP purchases of many drinks that use artificial sweeteners. Celerity Mar 13 #55

yes yes yes yes Cirsium Mar 13 #79

You think household supplies and alcohol should be covered by SNAP? Polybius Mar 14 #104

Nonsense Cirsium Mar 14 #105

It's an interesting position that I never heard anyone take Polybius Mar 14 #113

Why? Cirsium Mar 14 #114

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Mar 14 #115

That's what cash assistance is for Polybius Mar 15 #123

That isn't what being a Democrat is for Cirsium Mar 15 #125

No one is scolding anyone Polybius Mar 16 #133

I may be alone Cirsium Mar 16 #137

Because it was created for food and beverages Polybius Mar 16 #139

I don't agree Cirsium Mar 16 #140

This isn't up for agreeing or disagreeing Polybius Mar 17 #143

No Cirsium Mar 17 #144

Yes Polybius Mar 17 #145

Why the insults? Cirsium Mar 17 #146

No insults Polybius Mar 18 #147

Thanks Cirsium Mar 18 #149

There certainly is an argument to be made choie Mar 18 #153

I agree fully Polybius Mar 19 #159

No, it's a normal approach Polybius Mar 15 #122

Normal approach? Cirsium Mar 15 #124

Every governor is against your position Polybius Mar 16 #134

oh Cirsium Mar 16 #136

Totally agree with you IzzaNuDay Mar 13 #56

That's an entirely different issue though but it's one that does need to be addressed urgently IMO. cstanleytech Mar 13 #69

No, it is obviously a central part of the issue. niyad Mar 13 #71

Thank you Cirsium Mar 13 #78

You are most welcome. One would not think such a post was needed niyad Mar 13 #83

Also point out the percentage of SNAP recipients employed at least part-time Alice B. Mar 16 #135

Yes, thank you. A most excellent point. niyad Mar 16 #141

If I remember correctly in NYS/C... electric_blue68 Mar 12 #25

I remember exactly that decades ago when I got food stamps. NH Ethylene Mar 12 #27

In my case it was just for me... electric_blue68 Mar 12 #29

I can't speak for NYS, but soda and candy was allowed in NYC when I was on it Polybius Mar 12 #36

I'm an NYC'r but don't have SNAP anymore... electric_blue68 Mar 12 #45

I think I wrote this the other day. chouchou Mar 12 #30

Why should there be ANY "percentage for fun" designation? By WHOSE niyad Mar 12 #34

I understand your point. I was thinking that the "Other sons-a-####"" would stop trashing the poor.. chouchou Mar 13 #50

I can welll understand your desire to try that. However, as old and jaded niyad Mar 13 #52

Unfortunately, your words are true. I keep hoping that mostly people are kind, fair and just. chouchou Mar 13 #58

It is good to have hope and optimism. niyad Mar 13 #59

Absolutely. We can go shopping like professionals. chouchou Mar 13 #60

yayyyy niyad Mar 13 #61

You haven't been able to buy beer or wine for decades MichMan Mar 12 #31

see post 15 niyad Mar 12 #32

OMG, enough with the post #15 GenThePerservering Mar 13 #75

Good for you Cirsium Mar 13 #81

Thank you for confirming my post. niyad Mar 13 #85

Creative use of Reductio ad absurdum. Very serious stuff Torchlight Mar 13 #62

Let us add one little thing to this discussion. Apprroximately FIFTY PERCENT niyad Mar 12 #33

Not everyone has cooking facilities or equipment. Demobrat Mar 12 #46

THANK YOU!! And then there are the tuly homeless. I have never niyad Mar 13 #48

I only didn't mention them because Demobrat Mar 13 #87

Many shelters provide an address orangecrush Mar 14 #117

Where does it say "fresh food"? It says no "candy and sugary drinks" That would leave tons of options.. EX500rider Mar 13 #51

90 billion dollars the defense department wasted on lobster, crab and steak 🥩 questionseverything Mar 13 #82

90 billion? You sure about that? EX500rider Mar 13 #90

Sure there was some furniture, ice cream machines, musical instruments and questionseverything Mar 13 #92

The figure I saw was 22 million EX500rider Mar 13 #94

I think a snickers or a Reeces has more protein than chips or pastries questionseverything Mar 13 #95

Thank you Cirsium Mar 13 #80

when i was on snap, ShepKat Mar 13 #76

see post 15 niyad Mar 13 #84

You had a home with a working kitchen to make them in. Demobrat Mar 13 #88

Most folks on snap have to supplement it with food pantry items or cash questionseverything Mar 13 #93

This is nothing more than the continaution of Ronald Reagan and the "welfare queen driving Cadillacs" radicalleft Mar 13 #91

Soda isn't food OC375 Mar 14 #102

Grow up? berniesandersmittens Mar 14 #108

All about taxing the rich on my end OC375 Mar 14 #112

A snickers has 4-5 grams of protein ( from the peanuts) questionseverything Mar 15 #126

Buy a bag of nuts then OC375 Mar 15 #127

Obviously you don't need to use the gas station/ convenience store grocery questionseverything Mar 15 #128

Rural OC375 Mar 15 #129

Nothing is the way it was 20-30 years ago so spare me the " walked uphill in the snow " stories questionseverything Mar 15 #130

No snickers and soda isn't punishment OC375 Mar 15 #131

Candy isn't food? Wiz Imp Mar 18 #151

Gee, you sure got me OC375 Mar 18 #152

Weak. nt GenThePerservering Mar 21 #177

This isn't the hill Democrats should die upon NickB79 Mar 14 #109

Bye orangecrush Mar 14 #118

Ciao NickB79 Mar 14 #120

I could not care less what people spend them on. Demobrat Mar 14 #119

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Mar 14 #121

Dispensaries take food stamps? Demobrat Mar 15 #132

This is the way. BannonsLiver Mar 16 #138

Wouldn't hurt for American families to learn some new habits in what they cook and do a palate adjustment? Aussie105 Mar 18 #148

Nobody is arguing that the typical American diet is healthy. Demobrat Mar 18 #150

My $24 a month was just renewed CountAllVotes Mar 18 #156

A family member temporarily lost medical assistance because they missed including documentation for payments totaling Alice B. Mar 20 #164

FYI, here is what our original CARE packages contained (I googled it so you don't have to) CTyankee Mar 21 #174

Here's the pic BumRushDaShow Mar 21 #175