SNAP restrictions take effect in more states, no soft drinks and candy

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Three more states are implementing additional restrictions on their food stamp programs this week, banning sugary drinks and candy from the list of approved food items.

Several states nationwide requested waivers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to modify their restricted food definitions. The changes vary slightly state to state, but in most cases make soda, candy or energy drinks off limits.

Oklahoma is now one of the states with a new list of items that recipients of funds from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program (SNAP) won’t be allowed to purchase with their benefits in 2026. Retailers in the state can no longer accept SNAP EBT payments for soft drinks or candy.

According to the USDA, soft drinks are defined as “any beverage marketed or sold as a soda, soft drink, sports drink, energy drink, flavored water, or juice drink containing less than 100% juice.” The waiver also states that soft drinks include all fountain drinks and slushies, regardless of flavor or packaging.

Milk and milk substitutes, plain coffee, bottled water and 100 percent fruit juice do not count as soft drinks.

Candy is defined as basically anything marketed as candy, which could include candy bars, chocolate-covered raisins and nuts, or similar products. Baked goods (like cakes, muffins or brownies) and baking ingredients (like cocoa powder or chocolate chips) do not count as candy, and can still be purchased with SNAP benefits.

According to a USDA letter for Oklahoma, the changes were originally scheduled to begin on Jan. 1, 2026, but ended up starting on Sunday, Feb. 15

It’s one of 18 states implementing new restrictions on what SNAP beneficiaries can buy this year. Similar guidelines took effect in Idaho on Sunday. They’ll begin on Wednesday in Louisiana.

“With these new waivers, we are empowering states to lead, protecting our children from the dangers of highly-processed foods, and moving one step closer to the President’s promise to Make America Healthy Again,” USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a press release.

But critics of the restrictions say it puts unnecessary restrictions on the poorest in America.

“It’s about 18,000 items, and that will likely expand,” said Chris Bernard of Hunger Free Oklahoma. “It’s an opportunity to say you’re doing something, while really just stigmatizing a single group of people for choices that everybody in America really makes.”

SNAP helps approximately 1 in 8 Americans afford groceries.

The new bans on soda and candy aren’t the only restrictions on how people can spend their benefits. Non-food items (like soap or paper products), alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, medications, and hot foods are all already off limits in every state.