Overview
- About 1.4 million recipients are affected in Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah and West Virginia, with waivers running two years and eligible for a three-year extension, USDA says.
- States set different prohibitions: Utah and West Virginia bar soft drinks; Nebraska bans soda and energy drinks; Indiana restricts soft drinks and candy; Iowa’s rules sweep in taxable items such as soda, candy and some prepared foods.
- Indiana says the change touches roughly 450,000 residents and 5,000 retailers, and it defines “sugary drinks” and “candy” to guide checkout systems.
- Retailers forecast difficult rollouts with longer lines and confusion, while industry groups peg compliance costs at about $1.6 billion upfront and $759 million annually.
- Public-health researchers cite mixed evidence on benefits, anti-hunger advocates warn of stigma and access hurdles, and states must evaluate outcomes, with Indiana planning to analyze Medicaid and dental data.