OMAHA, April 20, 2026 – The American Heart Association, which is committed to changing the future of health for everyone, everywhere, issued this statement in response to the Nebraska Department of Health Human Services’ announcement that it intends to prohibit candy purchases in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP):

“The American Heart Association is committed to improving nutrition quality in SNAP. We have focused our efforts on sugary drinks, including full-calorie soda, sports drinks, lemonade, energy drinks, sweetened coffee and teas, and fruit drinks with added sugars, which are the number one source of added sugars in the U.S. diet.

“Removing sugary drinks from SNAP is an important first step. Nebraska has led the nation on this issue, becoming the first state last year to receive approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prohibit sugary drink purchases in SNAP. The Heart Association supports more states following Nebraska’s lead in pursuing state waivers on sugary drinks and evaluating their impact.

“We look forward to monitoring the state’s progress in defining and restricting candy within SNAP, which will help inform our efforts across the country to improve the health of SNAP participants.

“For decades, the soda industry has opposed efforts by the Association and others to pass meaningful public policies to address the overconsumption of sugary drinks. This outrageous behavior continues with the industry’s opposition to removing sugary drinks from SNAP, even though sugary drinks are among the most purchased items by SNAP participants.

“Nebraska and other states across the country are standing up to the soda industry and taking bold moves to improve the health of their citizens. The facts are clear - sugary drinks are the largest source of added sugars in the U.S. diet, and sugary drink consumption can lead to cardiovascular disease.”

The Association is committed to the shared goal of decreasing sugary beverage consumption and increasing consumption of healthy foods.

For more information on the Association’s commitment to reducing consumption of sugary drinks, visit: Our Commitment to Reducing Consumption of Sugary Drinks | American Heart Association.

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About the American Heart Association 
 The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.  

 

For Media Inquiries: 
Shannon Hilaire; Shannon.M.Hilaire@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721) 
heart.org and stroke.org