More States Restrict SNAP Benefits on Processed Foods

Six more states are changing the rules around what foods you can and can’t purchase using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) revealed this week.

According to the announcement, SNAP waivers for West Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas were signed on August 3, amending the “statutory definition of food for purchase” and ending the “subsidization of popular types of junk food beginning in 2026.” These states join six others that signed waivers enacting SNAP reform earlier this year.

Here’s what these changes mean for the millions of Americans that rely on this vital program for food purchases.

What is SNAP?

SNAP is a federally funded program that acts similarly to cash for those who need assistance with purchasing food. As Feeding America explains, “SNAP provides monthly funds to buy groceries. It is the largest anti-hunger program in America, helping over 41 million people in 2022.” That number equates to about 12.5% of the United States population.

The program, run by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, provides people with a card they can swipe or tap like a credit card to pay for food. “You can use it at local stores or farmers’ markets for groceries. The amount depends on your income and family size,” Feeding America adds.

Who is eligible for the program is determined on a state-by-state basis. However, the USDA notes that in most cases, your household must meet both the gross and net income limits it sets for each household size, with gross monthly income falling at or below 130% of the poverty line and 100% of net income at or below the poverty line.

If a household is eligible, it will receive an “allotment” of total food benefits each month. The USDA details, “Because SNAP households are expected to spend about 30% of their own resources on food, your allotment is calculated by multiplying your household’s net monthly income by 0.3 and subtracting the result from the maximum monthly allotment for your household size.”

Historically, waivers have also been used for supporting participants and expanding eligibility during times of low employment in the U.S., the Center for Science in the Public Interest explains. That included during the pandemic, as waivers gave “states flexibility to adapt the program and deliver services virtually.”

Which foods are being banned?

The new waivers, which go into effect in 2026, mean families will no longer be able to purchase products like soda or candy using their SNAP benefits. Some argue that this means families can no longer buy goods that may be used in celebrations like birthday parties or gatherings. However, the reforms differ state by state.

Newsweek reported that in Texas, the changes will ban soda, energy drinks, candy, and prepared desserts from SNAP benefits, while in Colorado and West Virginia, only soft drinks will be off the table. Nevertheless, the changes align with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again movement.

“For years, SNAP has used taxpayer dollars to fund soda and candy — products that fuel America’s diabetes and chronic disease epidemics,” Kennedy shared in the announcement. “These waivers help put real food back at the center of the program and empower states to lead the charge in protecting public health. I thank these governors who have stepped up to request waivers, and I encourage others to follow their lead. This is how we Make America Healthy Again.”

Unfortunately, this interpretation of how households use SNAP is likely an oversimplification of how many Americans access food.

“The issue isn’t about individuals misusing their benefits but their limited choices. In many rural areas and food deserts, convenience stores and fast-food chains are often the only available options,” Kavelle Christie, a health policy and advocacy expert and director at the Center for Regulatory Policy and Health Innovation, told Newsweek. “For many families, fresh produce and healthy meals are luxuries that are unattainable, not because they do not want these foods, but because they are unavailable or too expensive.”

The Center for Science in the Public Interest notes that while there are no results available from previous waivers restricting specific purchases — as this is the first time restrictive waivers have been allowed in practice — systematic models and reviews indicate that restrictions could lead to a decrease in purchases of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB).

It explains, “Modeling studies find that restrictions could reduce consumption among children and could reduce diet-related chronic disease prevalence among adults. But randomized controlled trials conducted in 2016 and 2024 found no significant differences in diet quality among study participants who received an SSB restriction versus the control group.”

It also cites the USDA’s’s study, which showed that SNAP participants struggle with healthy eating not because they lack an understanding of what is healthy, but rather because healthy food is simply unaffordable, an issue that is only worsening in the U.S.

Have other states passed SNAP waivers?

SNAP restriction waivers for Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, Arkansas, Idaho, and Utah were signed in early 2025, though government officials say they are hoping more states will follow suit. Although the precise restrictions may vary from state to state, all of them have banned soda or soft drinks, and several have banned candy.

“I hope to see all 50 states join this bold common sense approach. For too long, the root cause of our chronic disease epidemic has been addressed with lip service only. It’s time for powerful changes to our nation’s SNAP program,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary noted in the HHS’s announcement. “The goal is simple — reduce mass suffering from diabetes, obesity, and other long-term medical conditions. I applaud the leadership of Secretaries Rollins and Kennedy and President Trump in going bold.”