Soda Wars: Voters Divided Over Food Stamps for Soft Drinks

A Debate Over Dollars and Diets
A new Rasmussen Reports survey reveals a near-even split among American voters over whether Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients should be allowed to use benefits to buy sugary soft drinks. Forty-seven percent of likely voters believe food stamps should not cover sweetened beverages, while 43% disagree, and 10% remain uncertain. The findings highlight a broader national debate over public health, personal choice, and taxpayer responsibility.

Public Health vs. Personal Freedom
Supporters of the proposed restriction argue that banning soda purchases with federal aid could help reduce diet-related illnesses and healthcare costs. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently stated that it’s “nonsensical for U.S. taxpayers to spend tens of billions of dollars subsidizing junk that harms the health of low-income Americans.” Nearly six in ten voters agree with that sentiment, with more than one-third strongly agreeing. Opponents, however, argue that such limits unfairly stigmatize low-income families and restrict personal freedom in food choices.

A Snapshot of the Divide
The survey, conducted October 23 and 26–27, 2025, polled 1,158 likely voters nationwide, with a margin of error of ±3 percentage points. As policymakers and public health officials weigh potential changes to SNAP, the results suggest that Americans are deeply divided over whether the government should regulate what recipients can buy — especially when it comes to something as common as a can of soda.