KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved Governor Bill Lee's waiver to exclude the purchase of candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and sweetened beverages from the list of eligible foods under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The announcement came on Wednesday from the USDA, which approved Tennessee and five other states for the waiver.

Back in August, the Lee administration requested a waiver from the federal government to ban the purchase of processed foods and carbonated sweetened beverages that list "sugar, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, or a similar caloric alternative" as the primary ingredient for food, or as the first two ingredients for beverages.

The request did ask for permission to buy "hot prepared chicken, including rotisse

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