India, Feb. 15 -- The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) plays a key role in supporting low-income families across the United States. In 2026, a number of changes to the SNAP program are taking effect in at least 18 states, significantly affecting beneficiaries.

The first major change is the ban on junk food purchases under SNAP. It is part of the Trump administration's "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) initiative. The effort focuses on tackling chronic diseases and encouraging healthier eating habits across the country.

Brooke Rollins, the US secretary of agriculture, said: "Under the MAHA initiative, we are taking bold, historic steps to reverse the chronic diseases epidemic that has taken root in this country for far ...