Four more states have secured federal approval to restrict what can be purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, expanding a growing list of states limiting so-called junk food purchases.
Why It Matters
The changes in four states—Kansas, Ohio, Nevada and Wyoming—mean certain sugary items will no longer be eligible under the program, which supports more than 40 million low- and no-income Americans with monthly grocery assistance.
SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, is funded by the federal government but administered by individual states.
While states have some flexibility in how the program operates, any changes to eligible purchases must be approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees the program nationwide.
What To Know
The latest waivers, confirmed by the USDA on March 4, each target (and restrict) different categories of high-sugar products from being purchased using SNAP, and will be implemented throughout 2026 to 2028.
- Kansas will prohibit the purchase of candy and soft drinks using SNAP benefits beginning February 15, 2027.
- Ohio’s restriction on sugar-sweetened beverages is set to take effect earlier, on October 1, 2026.
- Wyoming will restrict sweetened, carbonated beverages will be barred from February 1, 2027.
- Nevada will block both candy and sugar-sweetened beverages starting February 1, 2028.
Although the details vary, the common thread is a ban on products high in added sugars. SNAP benefits are distributed monthly through electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, which recipients use at approved retailers. Once the new rules are in place, those cards will no longer cover the restricted items in the affected states.
With the addition of these four states, 22 states now have approved waivers limiting the purchase of certain foods considered low in nutritional value. The term “junk food” typically refers to products high in sugar and fat but offering minimal health benefits.
The movement to narrow SNAP eligibility rules has largely been driven by Republican-led states. Colorado, Kanas, Hawaii and Virginia are the only Democratic-led states that have implemented such waivers.
The full list of states with approved waivers now includes Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Supporters of the restrictions argue the program should prioritize nutritious options, but critics have warned that tighter rules may not automatically lead to healthier diets, and that restrictions penalize the neediest Americans.
What People Are Saying
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a press release issued on March 4: “SNAP exists to nourish vulnerable Americans—not bankroll the products driving our chronic disease crisis. Today, we are putting nutrition back at the center of SNAP and giving millions of families greater access to real food.”
Kavelle Christie, a health policy and advocacy expert, told Newsweek: “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. 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.”
What Happens Next
The new restrictions will be implemented throughout 2026 through 2028.
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