SNAP Bans on Soda, Candy, and More Are Coming in Some States in 2026
Business Insider••nation
Key Points:
- Starting January 1, 2026, eighteen states will implement new restrictions on SNAP food benefits, limiting purchases of soda, energy drinks, candy, and other sugary or unhealthy foods, according to the Department of Agriculture.
- These changes align with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again initiative, which emphasizes reducing consumption of sugar and certain food dyes.
- States had to obtain federal waivers to enforce these new SNAP purchase rules, but many shoppers and retailers have not been provided clear lists of restricted products, causing confusion among beneficiaries.
- Examples of state-specific start dates and restrictions include Indiana and Iowa beginning January 1 with bans on soda, candy, and certain drinks, while other states like Arkansas, Florida
