Bans on using SNAP funds for soda, candy and other foods take effect in some states Jan. 1
PBS••nation
Key Points:
- Starting January 1, five states—Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah, and West Virginia—will implement new restrictions on the purchase of soda, candy, and certain other foods using SNAP benefits as part of a federal push led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to improve diet quality and reduce chronic diseases.
- These waivers mark a significant policy shift from decades of federal SNAP rules allowing benefits to be used for nearly all food items except alcohol, hot prepared foods, and tobacco; the new restrictions aim to exclude items considered unhealthy but face criticism over implementation challenges and unclear affected food lists.
- Retail and health experts warn the changes could cause longer checkout lines, increased stigma for recipients, and technical issues at
