Colorado's SNAP soft drink ban will not go into effect
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Colorado's plans to ban SNAP recipients from buying sodas and other types of drinks are currently on hold after a federal court blocked the USDA's approval of the program.
The state had planned for the ban on “soft drinks” to begin on October 30, 2026. However, a federal judge ruled in June that the USDA did not have the authority to approve the restrictions, preventing them from taking effect for now. That means the ban won’t start as planned.
What was Colorado planning to ban?#what-was-colorado-planning-to-ban
The planned restrictions would have banned SNAP recipients in Colorado from buying:
- Soda, including regular and diet soda
- Sweetened iced teas
- Sweetened cold coffee drinks (if they don’t contain milk)
- Sports drinks with added natural or artificial sweeteners
- Energy drinks with added natural or artificial sweeteners
- Drinks that contain less than 50 percent fruit or vegetable juice
The restrictions did not apply to drinks made with milk or milk alternatives such as soy, oat, almond, or rice milk, as well as to drinks that are more than 50 percent fruit or vegetable juice.
Could the restrictions still take effect?#could-the-restrictions-still-take-effect
Possibly. The legal case is still ongoing as of July 8, 2026, and the USDA could appeal the court's decision.
For now, however, Colorado's planned SNAP purchase restrictions are not going to take effect, and SNAP recipients can continue using their benefits to buy soft drinks.
