Draft, under review. Not yet approved for publication.
SNAP soda and candy restrictions by state
Federal rules count soda and candy as food. Since 2026, USDA has approved waivers that let some states block certain items from SNAP purchases. Each state picks its own list, so what is blocked in one state may be fine in another.
USDA's list has 23 states. 4 of them are on hold because of a court ruling, described below. Pennsylvania is not on USDA's list.
States with an approved restriction
| State | What is restricted | Target start date |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | Soda, drinks with less than 50% juice, energy drinks and other unhealthy drinks, and candy | July 1, 2026 |
| Florida | Soda, energy drinks, candy and prepared desserts | April 20, 2026 |
| Hawaii | Soft drinks | April 1, 2027 |
| Idaho | Soda and candy | February 15, 2026 |
| Indiana | Soft drinks and candy | January 1, 2026 |
| Kansas | Candy and soft drinks | February 15, 2027 |
| Louisiana | Soft drinks, energy drinks and candy | February 18, 2026 |
| Missouri | Candy, prepared desserts and certain unhealthy drinks | February 15, 2027 |
| Montana | High-sugar drinks, energy drinks, candy and prepared desserts | November 1, 2026 |
| Nebraska | Soda, soft drinks and energy drinks; candy added March 1, 2027 | December 1, 2026 |
| Nevada | Candy and sugar-sweetened drinks | February 1, 2028 |
| North Dakota | Sweetened drinks, energy drinks and candy | November 1, 2026 |
| Ohio | Sugar-sweetened drinks and all fountain drinks | April 1, 2027 |
| Oklahoma | Soft drinks and candy | February 15, 2026 |
| South Carolina | Candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and sweetened drinks | November 1, 2026 |
| Texas | Sweetened drinks and candy | April 1, 2026 |
| Utah | Soft drinks | January 1, 2026 |
| Virginia | Sweetened drinks | November 1, 2026 |
| Wyoming | Sweetened, carbonated drinks | February 1, 2027 |
States where a court stopped the restriction
On June 22, 2026, a federal court in Washington, D.C. (Aragon et al. v. Rollins et al.) vacated USDA's approval of the waivers for Colorado, Iowa, Tennessee and West Virginia and ordered that they not proceed.
- Colorado: Soft drinks
- Iowa: Foods taxable under Iowa rules, other than food-producing plants and seeds
- Tennessee: Processed foods and drinks such as soda, energy drinks and candy
- West Virginia: Soda
Check with your state SNAP agency for the latest in these states, since this can change if the ruling is appealed.
Check your state
Lists, start dates and court rulings change. For what applies to your card today, contact your state SNAP agency.