Millions of Americans on food assistance will soon face new rules about what they can buy, as eight more states tighten SNAP benefits to encourage healthier eating habits. The changes target sugary drinks, candy, and other less nutritious items, aiming to reduce diet-related health risks.
SNAP Benefits: What You Can and Cannot Buy
Starting this year, states including Arkansas, Colorado, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Virginia will roll out restrictions on certain food items purchased with SNAP benefits. While the specifics and timelines vary, the general theme is clear: fewer sodas, candy, and energy drinks.
In Arkansas, the ban begins July 1 and covers soda, candy, and fruit and vegetable drinks with less than 50% natural juice. Montana will enforce a broader restriction starting September 30, including high-sugar drinks, energy drinks, candy, and pre-made desserts. Colorado’s rules target soft drinks from October 30, and several other states follow suit in August and October.
Why the Change is Happening
The push for healthier SNAP spending builds on similar policies already in place in Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah, and West Virginia. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasized that the policy shift is part of a broader strategy to fight the nation’s growing health crisis.
“To turn the tide on our nation’s health crisis, we need to ensure our nutrition assistance programs emphasize real food first, and that’s exactly what these updates to SNAP retailer requirements will do,” Rollins said, reports The Sun. SNAP-authorized stores process over $90 billion annually, and the USDA wants to ensure these funds support healthier choices.
Impact on Retailers
Alongside restrictions for SNAP recipients, retailers accepting SNAP benefits will face new rules starting this fall. Stores must carry a minimum variety of healthy foods across four categories: protein, grains, dairy, and produce. This requirement aims to make it easier for beneficiaries to access nutritious options without added shopping burdens.
Looking Ahead
With Kansas, Nevada, and Wyoming expected to join the list in the next two years, nearly half of US states will have limits on sugary drinks and candy purchases under SNAP by 2028. While some critics argue that such rules limit consumer choice, proponents say the policies will improve public health and reduce long-term medical costs for families relying on food assistance.
The rollout of these SNAP benefits restrictions marks a significant shift in federal and state food assistance policy, signaling a new era where nutrition is increasingly prioritized alongside financial support.
