Tennessee could ban sodas, candies from SNAP, add rotisserie chicken under federal waiver request

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Gov. Bill Lee has requested a waiver from the federal government to change what people can and cannot buy using their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

The waiver request would prevent SNAP benefits from being used on sodas and candies and allow people to use their benefits to purchase prepared foods, like rotisserie chicken, according to a release from Gov. Lee's office.

The waivers from the federal government are part of the "Make America Healthy Again" initiative under the Trump Administration to allow states to change what food assistance benefits, or food stamps, can be used on in the grocery store.

In TN's waiver request, sodas are defined as any drink where the first two ingredients are carbonated water and sugar, high-fructose c