Court strikes down Trump's healthy food mandate for food stamps

Judge strikes down Trump's requirement to buy healthy food with food stamps

A federal court has blocked the rule pushed by the Trump administration that sought to restrict the use of food stamps (SNAP) to products deemed healthy. The judge argued that the power to define the program's requirements rests with Congress, not the executive branch, meaning the measure exceeded the authority of the Department of Agriculture.

The ruling has reignited the debate over the limits of state intervention in the consumption habits of public assistance recipients. Those who support the decision argue that, no matter how harmful ultra-processed food may be, the government cannot impose a diet on citizens receiving assistance. The precedent would be dangerous: if tomorrow an administration decided that the right thing to eat was insects or organic food, it would be using SNAP as a tool of social engineering.

On the opposite side, some argue that since it is public money, it is legitimate to condition its use on public health guidelines. The epidemic of obesity and diabetes in the United States, especially among low-income households, would justify measures like Trump's. However, the court has made clear that this battle must be fought by the legislature.

The ruling does not prevent states from setting their own restrictions, but it strikes down the federal mandate. Meanwhile, food stamp recipients can keep using their benefits on sodas, candy and snacks, to the relief of the food industry and defenders of freedom of choice, though the controversy is far from over.