A federal judge blocks the Trump administration-backed effort to bar Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients from using benefits to buy soda, candy and sugary drinks, ruling that the U.S. Department of Agriculture lacks authority to redefine eligible foods under the Food and Nutrition Act.The decision halts pilot programs in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee and West Virginia and affects approvals in 23 states, protecting an estimated 13.5M SNAP recipients and preserving program rules that allow most foods for home consumption.Plaintiffs represented by the National Center for Law and Economic Justice argue the bans would harm low-income families and people with chronic illnesses who may need sugary products for medical reasons and note the pilots applied to all participants with no opt-out.The ruling challenges the administrations "Make America Healthy Again" campaign backed by Health Secretary
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary
Brooke Rollins, leaves open whether the
USDA will appeal and underscores that nutrition goals cannot override congressional statutes.