SNAP benefits: some states are set to ban junk food purchases in 2026.

Several U.S. states have received federal waivers to limit purchases of certain junk foods or sugary drinks with SNAP benefits starting in 2026. The approvals cover about 18 states and will be implemented at different times next year.

Several U.S. states will begin restricting what can be bought with SNAP benefits in 2026, after federal waivers were approved. Officials have described the changes as an effort to focus the program on nutrition. SNAP provides monthly grocery assistance to roughly 40 million people, and states can request waivers to modify allowable purchases. The approved waivers vary by state and will take effect at different points during 2026. What we know so far: - About 18 states received approvals that change rules on unhealthy SNAP purchases, including Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia. - Some states will bar purchases of a broad set of sugary foods and drinks, while others will restrict only specific items such as sugary beverages. - The U.S. Department of Agriculture presented the waivers as part of an initiative to emphasize nutrition within the program. - Approval dates and exact lists of prohibited items differ by state, so implementation timing is not uniform. - Health experts are reported as divided about whether purchase restrictions will achieve the intended nutritional outcomes. Summary: The state-level changes are expected to roll out across 2026 and will alter which items can be bought with EBT cards in affected states. The broader effects on diet quality and program participation are undetermined at this time.