More States Are Limiting What Foods Can Be Bought With SNAP Benefits

Starting in 2026, twelve states—including Texas and Florida—will make new rules about what foods people can buy using their SNAP benefits.

SNAP, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, helps more than 41 million Americans (about 12.5% of the population) buy groceries each month.
 

What's Changing?

The rules in these twelve states will ban spending SNAP money on "junk food" such as soda, candy, energy drinks, and some desserts. The actual foods banned will depend on each state.

For example, Texas will not allow people to use SNAP for soda, energy drinks, candy, and prepared desserts. Some states, like Colorado and West Virginia, are only banning soft drinks.

Government officials say these changes are meant to improve public health by encouraging people to buy healthier foods. They hope this will help reduce diseases like diabetes and obesity.
 

Why Are People Worried?

Some people are concerned that these rules could make things harder for families who live in "food deserts"—areas where healthy food is difficult to find or is expensive.

Experts point out that many families want to eat healthy but may not have access to fresh produce or meals, especially in rural places where only convenience stores and fast food are nearby.

Research shows that affordability and access are the main reasons SNAP recipients struggle to buy healthy food—not a lack of knowledge about nutrition.
 

Will the Changes Help?

Studies suggest limiting unhealthy food purchases with SNAP could reduce the amount of sugary drinks people buy.

But at the same time, some research has found that restricting these foods doesn’t always lead to better diets overall, since healthy foods may still be too expensive or hard to find.
 

Which States Are Making These Changes?

Recent waivers allowing these new rules have been signed by West Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas, with six other states (Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, Arkansas, Idaho, and Utah) having made similar changes earlier in 2025.

In all of these states, soda and soft drinks are not allowed, and many have banned candy as well.

Government officials hope more states will join in setting these limits, saying it’s a step toward lowering rates of chronic diseases across the country.

However, critics believe that addressing access and affordability is just as important as making rules about what people can buy.

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