More States Will Restrict What You Can Buy With SNAP Benefits

Starting in 2026, twelve states—including Texas and Florida—will make changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps millions of Americans buy food.

These states plan to ban the use of SNAP benefits for certain "junk foods," such as soda, candy, and desserts. The exact rules will vary; for example, some states will ban only sugary drinks, while others will also restrict candy and desserts.
 

Why Are These Changes Happening?

Federal officials say these changes are meant to improve public health. By limiting the purchase of unhealthy foods, they hope to reduce illnesses linked to poor diets, like diabetes and obesity.

The idea is to encourage people to buy more nutritious foods with their SNAP benefits.
 

Concerns About the New Rules

Not everyone agrees with these changes. Some critics say the new rules could hurt families living in areas where healthy food is hard to find, known as "food deserts."

In these places, affordable, nutritious foods might not be available, and people rely on whatever options they have. Research shows that cost and access to healthy foods are bigger challenges for SNAP recipients than a lack of knowledge about nutrition.
 

About SNAP

SNAP is a government program that helps low-income people buy groceries. It works like a debit card you can use in grocery stores and farmers’ markets.

The amount you get depends on your income and family size. In 2022, over 41 million people used SNAP—about 12.5% of the U.S. population.

Each state sets its own SNAP rules, but most people who qualify have incomes near or below the poverty line. Your monthly benefit is determined by your income, and you are expected to spend some of your own money on food, too.

Over the years, SNAP rules have been adjusted to help more people during tough times, like during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 

What Foods Are Being Banned?

With the new changes, families in these twelve states won’t be able to use SNAP benefits to buy items like soda or candy. These rules will affect things people often buy for celebrations, such as birthday parties.

For example, Texas will ban SNAP purchases of sodas, energy drinks, candy, and ready-made desserts. Colorado and West Virginia will only ban soda.
 

Who Supports and Opposes the Changes?

Government officials say these new rules will help fight chronic diseases. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that banning unhealthy foods from SNAP “helps put real food back at the center of the program and empowers states to protect public health.”

However, health experts and advocates worry the rules will make life more difficult for families in areas with limited access to healthy foods. They say the problem isn’t that people want to buy unhealthy foods—often, healthier options just aren’t available or are too expensive.
 

Do These Restrictions Work?

There isn’t much real-world data yet on how these new bans will affect SNAP users. Some studies suggest that banning sugary drinks could lower how often people buy them, especially for kids.

But other research did not find big changes in overall diet quality when some foods were restricted.
 

Other States Making Changes

Six other states previously changed their SNAP rules to restrict purchases of junk food. These states also banned soda and, in some cases, candy.

Federal officials hope that more states will adopt these rules in the future. Their goal is to reduce health problems like diabetes and obesity nationwide.

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