In further changes under the new administration (remarkably, it has only been seven months) the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services are now actively seeking states to implement further restrictions on what you can buy with food stamps.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) already denies beneficiaries the chance to buy pre-cooked foods or to enjoy the delights of a good glass of wine (or indeed any alcoholic drink). However, starting in 2026, there will be restrictions on non-nutritious items that include sodas and candy.
The USDA is actively approving Food Restrictions Waivers which allow states to implement whichever restrictions they feel will better the health of the most financially vulnerable of their residents. To date twelve states have been approved. The most draconian measures have come from that bastion of progressive policies, Florida. Starting as early as January next year that state’s SNAP beneficiaries will not be allowed to use their EBT cards to buy not only soda and candy but energy drinks and prepared desserts.
While there is no argument that America consumes too much of everything, and cutting down on soda is never an unhealthy choice, there is no mistaking that this feels like another vindictive move and one that provides no positive assistance. The administration could still choose to put more funds towards such options as providing education on good food choices, in increasing access to affordable healthy foods, or in simply increasing SNAP allocations to increase choices, but there’s no precedent for such moves and no evident motivation either.
To see which states are currently due to benefit from the waiver you can go here: SNAP Food Restriction Waivers | Food and Nutrition Service