Starting in 2026, millions of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit recipients will face stricter limits on what foods and drinks they can buy with their monthly benefits. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved a growing number of state-level food restriction waivers that bar the use of SNAP funds for specific non-nutritious items such as soda, candy, energy drinks, sweetened beverages and certain processed desserts. These bans will roll out throughout the year as individual states finalize their implementation plans., according to Food and Nutrition Service.
In total, around 18 states have received federal approval to restrict SNAP purchases beginning in 2026. Restrictions vary by state, but many will prohibit sweetened carbonated drinks, sugary snacks and candy from being purchased with Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. For example, Indiana will stop allowing candy and sugary drinks on January 1, 2026, while Florida’s restrictions on soda, candy and prepared desserts are set for April. Texas plans to ban sweetened drinks and candy with SNAP benefits starting April 1, 2026.
These changes are part of the USDA’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, which aims to refocus SNAP on nutrition and reduce diet-related health problems by limiting purchases of low-nutrient, high-sugar foods. Federal officials including Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have backed the waivers as a way to encourage healthier eating habits among low-income households.
Critics argue that such bans could limit consumer choice, create stigma and prove difficult for retailers to administer at checkout. Supporters say the reforms will better align public food assistance with long-term health outcomes.
