Governor Requests Soda Be Removed From SNAP Eligibility

West Virginians who use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may no longer be able to purchase some sugary drinks if a request to the federal government from Gov. Patrick Morrisey goes through. 

Morrisey announced Tuesday he has formally submitted a SNAP waiver request to remove soda and add healthy food under the program.

In a video accompanying the announcement, Morrisey said he is pushing for what he calls “healthy bundles” of fresh produce, lean meat and hot foods. Currently, SNAP can only be used to buy food that needs to be prepared at home.

“I’m really appreciative of Secretary Brooke Rollins and RFK for what they’re doing to take on these big fights,” Morrisey said. “And to help really move the needle in terms of going after the disease states that we have in our country. And certainly in West Virginia, we can make big progress going after obesity, diabetes and a lot of other tough health conditions.”

The push to ban sodas was first announced when U.S. Sec. of Health Robert F. Kennedy visited the state in March. At the time Morrisey announced his “Four Pillars of a Healthy West Virginia,” including:

• Clean up the food
• Find Purpose, Find Health
• Move Your Body, Change Your Life
• Reward Healthy Choices

The SNAP announcement follows another step in the governor’s health push, his signing of House Bill 2354 into law, which prohibits food dyes in school lunches and in food items for sale in West Virginia. 

Another one of Morrisey’s announcement from March, the implementation of work, training, and education requirements for SNAP recipients, was introduced in the Senate but failed to become law.

On Monday, state officials in Nebraska announced they had become the first state in the U.S. to secure a federal waiver prohibiting the purchase of soda and energy drinks with SNAP benefits.