OKLAHOMA CITY – Clients of a government food program will soon have to scratch certain items off their grocery list.

State leaders sought and obtained federal approval to remove sodas and candy from allowable items under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , also called SNAP , despite concerns the policy change won’t help improve Oklahoma’s health outcomes.

The program, commonly known as food stamps, is used by individuals who are low income .

Gov. Kevin Stitt in June announced he wanted to ban the purchases as part of his Making Oklahoma Healthy Again campaign.

“It’s common sense – making sure taxpayer dollars aren’t funding the very foods that fuel obesity, diabetes, and chronic disease will pay dividends for generations,” Stitt said in a statement.

The cha

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