Millions of Americans who depend on food assistance will wake up January 1 to new rules about what they can buy.
Five states are banning soda, candy, and energy drinks from SNAP purchases starting Thursday.
Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah, and West Virginia will be the first to enforce the restrictions.
About 1.4 million SNAP recipients in these states will no longer be able to use their benefits on certain items.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the changes as part of what officials call nutrition reforms under the Trump Administration.
“The Trump Administration is leading bold reform to strengthen integrity and restore nutritional value within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,” the USDA said in a statement.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pushed for the changes earlier in 2025. “Every American who wants to eat a donut ought to be able to eat it or drink a Coke,” Kennedy said. “But the federal taxpayer should not be paying to poison our children. And we’re going to end that.”
But not everyone agrees these rules will help.
Critics say the restrictions shame people who already struggle to afford food. They also warn the new rules could make grocery shopping confusing and raise prices for everyone.
“These restrictions will do nothing to make healthy food more affordable,” said Luke Elzinga and Gina Plata-Nino of the Food Action & Research Center. “Instead, it will increase stigma for SNAP participants, create confusion at checkout counters, raise grocery prices for us all.”
Full List of Approved Waivers
Eighteen states have USDA-approved SNAP food restriction waivers, with varying implementation dates in 2026. The table below details each state’s target date and restricted items.
What Each State Is Banning
Indiana will not allow SNAP users to buy soft drinks or candy. The USDA defines candy as sugar mixed with chocolate, fruit, or nuts in bars or pieces.
Iowa has the strictest rules. The state is banning all taxable food items, including soda, candy, trail mix with chocolate, sugary drinks like Hi-C, and most prepared foods. Only food-producing plants and seeds are exempt.
Nebraska is targeting soda and energy drinks specifically.
Utah and West Virginia are both banning soft drinks and soda.
More States Will Follow Throughout 2026
Thirteen more states will add similar restrictions later this year.
Idaho, Oklahoma, and Louisiana will make changes in February. Colorado follows in March. Texas, Virginia, and Florida will update their programs in April.
Arkansas and Tennessee plan changes for July. Hawaii and South Carolina will restrict items in August. North Dakota makes updates in September, and Missouri waits until October.
In total, 18 states have received USDA approval to limit what SNAP recipients can purchase.
According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, around 13 million people across these 18 states will see their benefits change in 2026.
Why States Want These Rules
Supporters say the restrictions promote healthier eating and prevent taxpayer money from funding unhealthy foods.
“Soaring obesity rates have brought our nation and state to a crossroads,” Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said in May. “To promote healthy eating and protect future generations from disease — and to ensure SNAP fulfills its core function — we need a change.”
The USDA said the waivers help “ensure that taxpayer dollars provide nutritious options that improve health outcomes within SNAP.”
States can enforce these waivers for two years, with the option to extend them for three more years.
Real People Are Worried
Marc Craig, an unhoused man in Iowa, told the Des Moines Register he understands the goal but worries about his situation.
“I agree, I would love to eat vegetables, I would love to eat hamburger, but I can’t store it,” Craig said. “And if you’re in a shelter, you can’t bring in outside food.”
The restrictions will work through EBT systems at checkout. Stores will automatically block banned items when SNAP users try to pay.
SNAP served 41 million Americans in 2024, making it the nation’s largest food assistance program, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
The program began in 1939 during the Great Depression. President Lyndon B. Johnson made it permanent with the Food Stamp Act of 1964.
