Nebraska has become the first state in the nation to restrict low-income recipients of public grocery aid from using SNAP benefits to buy soda and energy drinks. The ban related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program was announced Monday during a daylong visit to the Cornhusker state by U.

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins signed a waiver to amend which foods and beverages will be available for purchase under Nebraska’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Residents will no longer be able to purchase soda and energy drinks using their SNAP benefits.

Nebraska is the first state to receive a federal waiver to ban the purchase of soda and energy drinks under the food benefit program for low-income Americans long known as food stamps