Food stamps and junk food bans: What you need to know

Food stamps, technically called SNAP, is a benefit program that allows recipients to use their benefits to buy any eligible groceries.

That includes things like fruits, vegetables, meat, beans, grains, cereal, and foods considered “junk foods,” including soda, chips, cookies, pretzels, energy drinks, and candy.

But some states, including Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia, are changing the rules about what you can buy with SNAP starting in 2026, and banning SNAP-recipients from using their benefits to buy certain “junk foods.”

Several other states are also reconsidering whether SNAP benefits can be used to buy candy, soft drinks, and other processed foods. Here's what you need to know about upcoming SNAP restrictions on certain foods and drinks.

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What junk food can you buy with food stamps?#what-junk-food-can-you-buy-with-food-stamps

In most places, you can use your SNAP benefits to buy pretty much any food in the grocery store—SNAP basically allows purchase of anything with a “nutrition facts” label.

That includes staples like produce, dairy, grains, meat, seafood, beans, and nuts, as well as snack foods and treats like chips, candy, popcorn, soda, chocolate, cookies, and ice cream.

But starting in 2026, some states will ban specific items from SNAP purchases. The most common restrictions include:

• Soda and soft drinks: This includes regular soda, diet soda, and carbonated beverages. Some states will also restrict energy drinks, fruit drinks with less than 50 percent natural juice and other sweetened beverages
• Candy: Hard candy, chocolate bars, gum, and other confections will be ineligible for EBT in several states
• Snack foods: Some states are considering banning chips, cookies, and other packaged snacks from SNAP, though specific rules vary by state
• Frozen convenience foods: While basic frozen fruits and vegetables remain covered, some prepared frozen meals may face restrictions

Each state has different rules about what counts as restricted food, so what you can and can’t buy will depend on where you live.

If your state hasn’t added specific food restrictions to SNAP, then you’ll still be able to use food stamps to buy treats like soda and candy.

Which states are changing SNAP rules about junk food?#which-states-are-changing-snap-rules-about-junk-food

The federal government hasn’t changed what groceries you can buy with SNAP benefits nationwide, but some states have received permission to create their own restrictions around certain foods.

As of January 2026, 18 states now have approval to limit what you can buy with SNAP benefits:

• 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. This is set to go into effect on July 1, 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. This is expected to go into effect on March 1, 2026.
• Florida will no longer allow SNAP to be used to buy soda, energy drinks, candy, and prepared desserts. Prepared desserts refers to pre-packaged sweets that are ready-to-eat when you buy them. This should go into effect on April 20, 2026.
• Hawaii will ban soft drinks, defined as nonalcoholic carbonated beverages that are 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). This is set to go into effect on August 1, 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. This should go into effect on February 15, 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. This should go into effect on January 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. This is expected to go into effect on January 1, 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. This is set to go into effect on February 18, 2026.
• Missouri will ban using SNAP on any candy, processed and pre-packaged prepared desserts, and "unhealthy drinks," which includes soft drinks, lemonade, drink mixes and concentrates, and energy drinks that contain stimulants like caffeine, guarana, glucuronolactone, or taurine. This should go into effect on October 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. This is expected to go into effect on January 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. This is set to go into effect on September 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.” This is expected to go into effect on January 1, 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 that are meant for necessary nutrition or rehydration after an illness (like Pedialyte) are also not part of the ban. This should go into effect on August 31, 2026.
• Tennessee will ban " processed foods" that have sugar, cane sugar, com syrup, or high fructose com syrup as the first ingredient and any drinks that that list carbonated water and sugar, cane sugar, com syrup, and high fructose com syrup as the first two ingredients. This is set to go into effect on July 31, 2026.
• Texas is banning the use of SNAP benefits to buy sweetened drinks and candy, including chocolate, gum, and other sugary treats. Sweetened drinks refers to “nonalcoholic beverages made with water that contain five grams or more of added sugar or any amount of artificial sweetener.” This is expected to go into effect on April 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.” This is set to go into effect on January 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. This should go into effect on April 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. This is expected to go into effect on January 1, 2026.

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Where else will restrictions on SNAP purchases happen?#where-else-will-restrictions-on-snap-purchases-happen

Several other states are exploring similar changes. Lawmakers in Arizona, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, and Ohio have introduced bills to limit junk food purchases with SNAP.

Altogether, these potential restrictions could impact over seven million people who depend on SNAP for groceries.