US EditionSNAP Restrictions on Junk Food in Certain States Begin in 2026
Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah and West Virginia restrict sugary food purchases for about 1.4 million SNAP recipients to improve health and reduce chronic disease risks.
- Beginning in 2026, states with approved waivers will prohibit SNAP recipients from using electronic benefit transfer cards to buy specific categories of foods deemed unhealthy.
- In total, 18 states have changed their rules around unhealthy SNAP purchases over the past year, with some states banning sugary foods and drinks altogether and others taking a narrower approach.
- Because of concerns about poor diet, overweight and obesity among low-income Americans, there is considerable interest in using federal nutrition assistance programs to promote healthy choices.
103 Articles
103 Articles
5 States Limit Soda, Candy for SNAP Recipients to Curb Obesity
Residents in five states receiving federal food assistance will face new restrictions on their benefits when it comes to purchasing soda, candy, and other items categorized as unhealthy starting Thursday, marking the first push to overhaul the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah, and West Virginia are leading the charge on the new restrictions through waivers approved by the U.S. Department of Agricult…
SNAP junk-food purchase restrictions take effect Jan. 1 in five states, others to follow in 2026
The new year brings new restrictions on food purchases by SNAP recipients. On Jan. 1, five states are banning SNAP recipients from using their taxpayer-funded food assistance benefit to purchase junk food.
The beginning of 2026 brings immediate changes for hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries of the Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Since Thursday, January 1, five states —Indian, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah and West Virginia — are beginning to apply new restrictions limiting the use of SNAP for the purchase of soft drinks, sweets and other products considered unhealthy.Read more]]>
SNAP benefits can't be used to buy soda, candy, soft drinks from New Year—which states are implementing policy change?
The new restrictions also mark a departure from decades of US federal policy, which previously allowed SNAP benefits to be used for ‘any food or food product intended for human consumption,’ excluding alcohol, tobacco, and ready-to-eat hot foods.
Associated Press News
SNAP bans on soda, candy and other foods take effect in five states Jan. 1
Americans in five states who get government help paying for groceries will see new limits starting Thursday on soda, candy and other foods they can buy with those benefits.
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