US farm agency to allow three more states to bar some items from food aid

By Ahmed Aboulenein and Leah Douglas

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Tuesday signed waivers allowing Arkansas, Idaho and Utah to bar participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program from using their benefits to buy certain processed foods like soda and candy.

The administration of President Donald Trump has encouraged all states to request such waivers as part of its Make America Healthy Again initiative fronted by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Rollins had previously signed waivers from Indiana, Iowa and Nebraska to restrict SNAP purchases of soft drinks, energy drinks or candy.

"It's about nutrition, and there's no nutrition in these products. We shouldn't be paying for them with taxpayer money," Kennedy told reporters at a press conference alongside Rollins.

Additional waivers from Colorado, Kansas, West Virginia, Texas, Ohio, Florida and Louisiana are under review, Rollins said.

Kennedy and Rollins also reiterated earlier statements that they plan to release an updated version of the nation's dietary guidelines this summer. Rollins said the guidelines will be released "very soon" and emphasize whole, nutritious foods.

More than 41 million people receive SNAP benefits, sometimes known as food stamps.

The tax and spending bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in May and being considered by the Senate would shrink SNAP enrollment by hiking work requirements to receive the benefits and moving significant costs for the program to states.

(Reporting by Leah Douglas in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler and Bill Berkrot)