The claim that $65 million a day of tax money goes to soda and candy through SNAP exaggerates the amount spent specifically on these items and lacks precise, up-to-date data to support it.
Misleading
$65 million a DAY of your tax money goes to soda and candy through SNAP.
RFK Jr. is right: Ban soda and candy from food stamps - Blaze Media
Source: theblaze.com
At a glance
Verified August 14, 2025Key Evidence
SNAP's total annual budget is over $100 billion, making daily expenditures on all food items roughly in the hundreds of millions.
Some sources estimate about $60 million daily may go toward sugary drinks and junk food combined, but this includes more than just soda and candy.
theblaze.comtheblaze.comRFK Jr. is right: Ban soda and candy from food stamps
Federal SNAP rules currently allow purchase of soda and candy; some states have started banning these items.
fooddive.comfooddive.comMore states ban soda and ‘junk food’ purchases from SNAP benefits
About 25% of SNAP spending benefits farmers and ranchers, indicating a broader economic impact beyond just unhealthy food purchases.
politifact.compolitifact.comYes, about a quarter of every dollar spent via SNAP goes to farmers and ranchers
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a large federal program with a budget exceeding $100 billion annually, designed to help low-income families purchase food. While SNAP benefits can be used to buy soda and candy, the exact daily expenditure on these items is not clearly documented or publicly detailed in official USDA reports.
Estimates cited in media and opinion pieces vary widely, with some sources suggesting around $60 million per day may be spent on sugary drinks and junk food combined, but these figures often come from extrapolations or older data rather than precise current accounting.
SNAP does not restrict purchases of soda and candy at the federal level, though some states have begun to implement bans or restrictions on such purchases within their SNAP programs.
The claim of $65 million per day specifically for soda and candy is not directly supported by authoritative government data; it appears to be an approximation or rhetorical figure used in advocacy or opinion contexts.
Research articles and fact-checks emphasize that while unhealthy food purchases are a concern, SNAP also supports farmers and ranchers significantly, with about 25% of every SNAP dollar going to agricultural producers.
Therefore, while SNAP funds are indeed used to purchase soda and candy, the specific figure of $65 million per day is misleading without clear evidence and should be viewed as an estimate rather than a verified fact.
Primary trail
Verified Sources7
Open source