Major soft drink companies are pushing back against the potential removal of sugary drink coverage from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in case Robert F. Kennedy Jr. takes over Health and Human Services with plans to remove soda and processed food from the system.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Keurig Dr Pepper have deployed lobbyists to plead their case on Capitol Hill. They argue that more soda companies are selling more zero-sugar drinks and that calorie labels let consumers make better choices.

Nearly 60% of beverages sold today have zero sugar, according to the American Beverage Association.

The lobbyists also argue that instead of restricting what SNAP users can buy, Congress should find ways to help low-income families have access to healthier options, pointing to groups like Share Our Strength, a nonprofit hunger relief organization, that have called for the same action.

Roughly 42 million Americans, or 12.6% of the population, received SNAP benefits in fiscal 2023, according to the Agriculture Department.

In a September op-ed published in the Journal, Mr. Kennedy argued that “it’s nonsensical for U.S. taxpayers to spend tens of billions of dollars subsidizing junk that harms the health of low-income Americans.”

Mr. Kennedy isn’t the only one who wants to limit what SNAP receivers can buy. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders sent a letter to Mr. Kennedy and Brooke Rollins, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for agriculture secretary, to urge them to “prohibit the sale of junk food in SNAP and end taxpayer-funded junk food.”

She also wanted to pursue a SNAP waiver that would support the purchase of fresh fruit, vegetables, eggs and protein.

“As someone who believes in the Trump administration’s unifying, aspirational vision for the future, the time has come to support American farmers and end taxpayer-funded junk food,” she said.

In a statement after Ms. Sanders’ letter, the American Beverage Association said families on SNAP “deserve the dignity of choice.”

“Limiting choice by restricting SNAP purchases won’t make Americans healthier or save taxpayers money,” the association said. “Rather, these proposals would effectively create a two-tiered system in which the right to personal autonomy around diet is conditioned on income and means. This goes against America’s commitment to individual liberty and freedom.

“If President-elect Trump and his administration decide to look at the SNAP program, we ask for the opportunity to work with him to make the program stronger and ensure it works for Americans and their families.”

Coca-Cola told the Journal that the company “is always active in engaging on policies important to our business.”

The other two companies referred questions to the beverage association.

• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.