Overview
- USDA approvals now include Hawaii, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee, bringing the total to 18 states restricting items such as sugary drinks and candy.
- Indiana’s Smart SNAP takes effect January 1, 2026, banning SNAP purchases of sugary drinks and candy while exempting milk-based beverages and 100% juice.
- West Virginia, Utah, Nebraska, Iowa, and Indiana launch changes on January 1, 2026, with Missouri slated to implement its rules in October 2026.
- Indiana’s state guidance directs retailers to update point-of-sale systems, file compliance documents with FSSA, and train staff before the rules are enforced.
- Officials frame the policy as part of the Make America Healthy Again initiative led by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, as some recipients publicly object to the limits.