Judge strikes down Tennessee SNAP ban on sugary foods

Audio By Carbonatix

(The Center Square) – A federal judge struck down waivers allowing five states, including Tennessee, to ban sodas and other sweets from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Gov. Bill Lee asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the SNAP waiver in August. While it banned processed foods and high-sugar sodas, the waiver included prepared rotisserie chickens purchased in grocery stores. It was set to take effect July 31. 

The five plaintiffs represented by the National Center for Law and Economic Justice include a Knoxville mother of a 19-year-old daughter with disabilities that limited what she could eat. The restriction would have removed some of the foods her daughter could eat, according to the lawsuit. 

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson also halted restrictions in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska and West Virginia. 

“The court’s ruling is a major step in restoring essential food assistance to the millions of families that rely on SNAP nationwide,” said Katharine Deabler-Meadows, senior attorney at the National Center for Law and Economic Justice. “This decision makes clear that the USDA cannot bypass the legal guardrails that establish how SNAP must operate across the country."

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the restrictions were common sense. 

"SNAP is for food – not sugar bombs fueling obesity, diabetes, and skyrocketing healthcare costs for low-income families," Rollins said Tuesday in a social media post. "Taxpayers shouldn’t subsidize junk food and drinks at the expense of American health. This administration will keep fighting to Make America Healthy Again."

Lee's office did not immediately return a message seeking comment.