Court Rules Against Government As SNAP Bans Candy And Soda

On June 22, 2026, a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, is 68 page Judgement ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) overstepped its legal authority by approving waivers that allowed states to ban the use of SNAP food stamps for sugary drinks and candy. [1]

Case Details & Implications: 

The Ruling: U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson granted summary judgment to SNAP recipients, vacating the USDA's approval of "food restriction" waivers that had been enacted in five states: Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

The Background: 

The waivers were a major policy push of the administration’s "Make America Healthy Again" initiative, aiming to curb the purchase of unhealthy foods like soda and candy.

Legal Rationale: 

Judge Jackson ruled that the USDA lacked the authority under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to unilaterally change or waive the federal definition of "food". The court also found that the USDA failed to adhere to mandatory public notice and comment requirements.

Next Steps: 

The decision immediately blocks the five states from enforcing these specific restrictions and creates significant legal obstacles for similar junk-food bans implemented in roughly two dozen other states across the country. [1, 4, 8]

For further details on the scope of the decision, you can view the full National Center for Law and Economic Justice (NCLEJ) Press Release or read the Bloomberg Law summary of the case. [9]

[1] https://www.facebook.com/CatawbaCountyNewsAndWeather/posts/-federal-judge-blocks-snap-soda-and-candy-restrictions-in-five-states-ruling-cou/1592781686189560/
[2] https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/snap-recipients-win-bid-to-void-purchase-limits-on-soda-candy
[3] https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/22/us/politics/judge-ruling-food-stamps-sugary-drinks.html
[4] https://mezha.net/eng/bukvy/73c172b9_federal_judge_blocks/
[5] https://www.facebook.com/thehodgetwins/posts/%EF%B8%8F-judge-blocks-trump-era-snap-restrictionson-june-22-judge-jackson-blocked-the-t/1634506891365225/
[6] https://www.facebook.com/thehodgetwins/posts/%EF%B8%8F-judge-blocks-trump-era-snap-restrictionson-june-22-judge-amy-berman-jackson-bl/1634506891365225/
[7] https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5935279-judge-blocks-soda-snap-ban/
[8] https://www.just-food.com/news/judge-throws-out-us-bid-to-ban-use-of-snap-benefits-on-junk-food/
[9] https://myfox8.com/news/federal-judge-blocks-bans-on-snap-use-for-soda/