No more junk food on SNAP? We've got the full details.

Most groceries — even soda, chips, candy and other treats — are still SNAP-eligible. But starting in 2026, some states are restricting items like soft drinks and candy, and exactly what's affected depends on where you live.

Which states are changing the rules?#which-states-are-changing-the-rules

As of early 2026, 22 states have received federal approval to restrict what residents can buy with SNAP purchases.

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State-by-state: what's restricted and when#state-by-state-whats-restricted-and-when

Every state defines “restricted” differently, so what changes depends on where you live. Here's each approved state in alphabetical order, with its start date and exactly what's affected.

Arkansas
Jul 1, 2026
Arkansas is cutting soda, candy, and fruit drinks that contain less than half real juice from the SNAP program. The state is also evaluating "other unhealthy drinks" that will be restricted.
Colorado
Oct 30, 2026
Colorado will ban soft drinks, which the state defines as nonalcoholic beverages made with natural or artificial sweeteners. This does not include drinks that contain milk or milk alternatives (like soy or rice milk) or any beverages that are more than 50 percent fruit or vegetable juice.
Florida
Apr 20, 2026
Florida will no longer allow SNAP to be used to buy soda, energy drinks, candy, and prepared desserts. Prepared desserts refer to pre-packaged sweets that are ready-to-eat when you buy them.
Hawaii
Aug 1, 2026
Hawaii will ban soft drinks, defined as nonalcoholic carbonated beverages that have more than 10 grams of sugar per serving (this doesn't include drinks that contain milk or milk substitutes, or drinks that are more than 50% fruit or vegetable juice).
Idaho
Feb 15, 2026
Idaho will ban soda and candy purchases. All nonalcoholic beverages containing natural or artificial sweeteners are included under the "soda" category, except for milk-based drinks, beverages that are more than half juice, and products you need to mix or prepare before drinking.
Indiana
Jan 1, 2026
Indiana will ban soft drinks and candy. The state has defined "soft drinks" as any non-alcoholic sweetened drinks, including drinks with sugar or artificial sweeteners, but not including milk-based drinks, soy milk, rice milk, or drinks sweetened only with 100 percent fruit or vegetable juice. The state has defined "candy" as treats made with sugar, honey, or other sweeteners mixed with chocolate, fruit, nuts, or flavorings. The definition doesn't include items that need to be kept cold.
Iowa
Jan 1, 2026
Iowa plans to exclude most items that get taxed under state law–this may include candy, gum, dried fruit, or fruit candy with natural or artificial sweeteners, packaged popcorn, marshmallows, soda, flavored water, and juice drinks with less than half fruit content.
Kansas
Feb 15, 2027
Kansas will ban candy and soft drinks. Candy is defined as treats made with sugar, honey, or other sweeteners combined with chocolate, fruit, nuts, or flavorings. Soft drinks are nonalcoholic beverages that contain natural or artificial sweeteners.
Louisiana
Feb 18, 2026
Louisiana is banning soft drinks, energy drinks, and candy from SNAP. The state defines soft drinks as sweetened, carbonated drinks and energy drinks as beverages with added stimulants, like fortified caffeine, meant to boost energy.
Missouri
Oct 1, 2026
Missouri will ban using SNAP on any candy, processed and pre-packaged prepared desserts, and "unhealthy drinks," which include soft drinks, lemonade, drink mixes and concentrates, and energy drinks that contain stimulants like caffeine, guarana, glucuronolactone, or taurine.
Nebraska
Jan 1, 2026
Nebraska will ban soft drinks and energy drinks, including any fizzy drinks that contain water, sweeteners (like sugar or artificial sweeteners), and flavoring. Energy drinks include drinks with stimulants like caffeine, guarana, or taurine that are made to boost energy or alertness. They can be fizzy or flat and may include vitamins, herbs, or fruit juice. Sports drinks that are marketed for hydration, like Gatorade, are not included in the ban.
Nevada
Feb 1, 2028
Nevada will ban candy and sugar-sweetened beverages. The state defines "sugar-sweetened beverages" as ready-to-drink or ready-to-mix nonalcoholic beverages that contain added caloric sweeteners, including soft drinks and fruit drinks with less than 50% real juice.
North Dakota
Sep 1, 2026
North Dakota is banning candy, soft drinks, and energy drinks containing stimulants. The restrictions also include baking supplies like cake decorations, marshmallows, and chocolate chips.
Ohio
Oct 1, 2026
Ohio will ban sugar-sweetened beverages from SNAP purchases. These are drinks that contain added caloric sweeteners, such as sugar or high-fructose corn syrup.
Oklahoma
Jan 1, 2026
Oklahoma will ban candy and soft drinks. Candy is defined as any sweet, sugar, or chocolate-based treat, like gummies, caramels, and chewing gum. Baked goods, like cookies or cake, are not considered "candy."
South Carolina
Aug 31, 2026
South Carolina will ban candy, energy drinks, soft drinks, and "sweetened beverages," unless they're made with milk or milk products or contain 50% or more natural fruit or vegetable juice, with no added caloric sweetener. Formula, carbonated water, sports drinks meant for rehydration, and drinks intended for necessary nutrition or rehydration after an illness (like Pedialyte) are also not part of the ban.
Tennessee
Jul 31, 2026
Tennessee will ban "processed foods" that list sugar, cane sugar, corn syrup, or high fructose corn syrup as the first ingredient, and any drinks that list carbonated water and sugar, cane sugar, corn syrup, or high fructose corn syrup as the first two ingredients.
Texas
Apr 1, 2026
Texas is banning the use of SNAP benefits to buy sweetened drinks and candy, including chocolate, gum, and other sugary treats. Sweetened drinks refer to "nonalcoholic beverages made with water that contain five grams or more of added sugar or any amount of artificial sweetener."
Utah
Jan 1, 2026
Utah will ban soft drinks, which the state is defining as "a nonalcoholic beverage that is made with carbonated water and that is flavored and sweetened with sugar or artificial sweeteners."
Virginia
Apr 1, 2026
Virginia will ban sweetened beverages. That includes anything typically referred to as soda, diet soda, zero soda, pop, and energy drinks. The ban will not include sparkling water, drinks made with milk or milk substitutes, iced tea, lemonade, juice, formula, or any sports drinks meant for rehydration.
West Virginia
Jan 1, 2026
West Virginia will not allow residents to use their SNAP benefits to buy soda, pop, or other carbonated sweetened drinks. These are defined as carbonated beverages with water, sweeteners (like sugar or artificial sweeteners), flavoring, and sometimes caffeine or other added ingredients.
Wyoming
Feb 1, 2027
Wyoming will ban sweetened, carbonated beverages from SNAP purchases. These are defined as carbonated drinks that contain added sweeteners, such as sugar or artificial sweeteners.

Where else could restrictions happen?#where-else-could-restrictions-happen

Lawmakers in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Mississippi and Montana have introduced bills to limit junk food purchases too. Altogether, these potential changes could affect more than seven million people who rely on SNAP for groceries.

The rules are shifting fast and look different in every state. The Propel app keeps the latest changes for your state in one place — so a rule change never catches you at the register.