Texas and Virginia are the latest states to implement restrictions on the types of food that can be purchased using SNAP benefits. These restrictions, part of the 'Make America Healthy Again' initiative, primarily target sugary drinks and candy. Several other states will follow suit in the coming years.
Texas and Virginia are the latest states to begin enforcing new purchase restrictions for SNAP , the taxpayer-funded food assistance program.On April 1, Texas and Virginia will join Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah, West Virginia , Oklahoma, and Louisiana to enact waivers prohibiting the purchase of certain foods through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP .
The new restrictions vary by state, but most restrict the purchase of soda, energy drinks, and candy. Texas will restrict the purchase of sweetened drinks and candy and Virginia will restrict the purchase of sweetened beverages.Several other states: Florida, Colorado, Arkansas, Tennessee, Hawaii, South Carolina, North Dakota, Missouri, and Ohio will also be implementing restrictions in 2026. Kansas and Wyoming will implement restrictions in 2027 and Nevada in 2028. The banning of junk food from SNAP purchases is part of the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again initiative. "Under the MAHA initiative, we are taking bold, historic steps to reverse the chronic diseases epidemic that has taken root in this country for far too long," said Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins."Thank you to the 18 governors who are leading the charge on SNAP reform to restore the health of Americans—especially our kids. Their courageous leadership is exactly what we need to Make America Healthy Again," said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. RELATED: SNAP: See the overpayment and underpayment rates for benefits in every stateRELATED: New SNAP requirements now in effect, USDA planning major overhaul of program The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service oversees the SNAP program, which in fiscal year 2024 cost just over $100 billion, providing an average of $190.59 a month per person to over 42 million people. The federal government sends SNAP funds to states which administer applications and determine eligibility based on federal guidelines. Benefits are loaded on prepaid cards through the Electronic Benefit Transfer system and beneficiaries use the cards at stores to pay for their groceries.
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