Overview
- The first waivers take effect Thursday in Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah and West Virginia, covering about 1.4 million SNAP recipients.
- Prohibitions vary by state, with Utah and West Virginia barring soda, Nebraska banning soda and energy drinks, Indiana targeting soft drinks and candy, and Iowa applying limits to taxable foods including some prepared items.
- Indiana officials say the rules affect 450,000 residents across 5,000 retailers and the state will track outcomes such as obesity and dental issues in groups like Medicaid enrollees.
- USDA says the waivers run for two years with an option to extend for up to three more, and each participating state must assess the policy’s effects.
- Retailers and advocates warn of point-of-sale reprogramming challenges, longer checkout times, customer confusion and stigma, with trade groups estimating $1.6 billion upfront and $759 million in annual costs.