Because the artificial sweeteners and chemicals are also harmful. I don't know why people think that Diet Coke is any better than regular Coke. You're just replacing one sweetener with another and still at risk of diabetes and other health problems[0].
Why would a program that's meant to help people buy groceries include any soda? The point is to help people in need to be able to afford an adequate diet, not to buy fun treats. It shouldn't include marijuana either, for example.
I don’t know if I can behind this idea. If they cared about _not paying twice_ there would be free or affordable health care to lower income folks, helping drive preventative medical care vs waiting on health problems become too big ignore and thus ends up being a larger medical bill, which they can’t afford. So ya I think it’s still about control. Society as a whole is weirdly obsessed with controlling those with less means
[0] https://health.clevelandclinic.org/3-reasons-you-should-kick...