Overview

• On June 10 the USDA approved waivers for Arkansas, Idaho and Utah, joining Indiana, Iowa and Nebraska in barring soda and candy purchases under SNAP.
• Each waiver revises the statutory definition of eligible SNAP foods to exclude items such as soft drinks, low-calorie sodas, fruit drinks with under 50% juice and candy, with most bans taking effect in early 2026.
• States including Colorado, Kansas, Texas, Ohio, Florida and Louisiana are preparing similar waiver requests to impose purchase limits on unhealthy foods under their SNAP programs.
• About 23% of SNAP expenditures—roughly $27 billion annually—goes toward unhealthy items, and studies estimate that such bans could substantially reduce obesity and Type 2 diabetes cases.
• Critics contend the purchase restrictions are paternalistic and overlook root causes of poor health outcomes such as limited access to affordable nutritious foods and broader socioeconomic barriers.