Feb 16, 2026
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, has made it clear he wants soda, energy drinks, candy and highly processed foods off the table when it comes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
“We cannot continue a system that forces taxpayers to fund programs that make people sick and then pay a second time to treat the illnesses those very programs help create,” he said in a December statement.
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What is not so clear to food retailers and the 41 million Americans who rely on SNAP is what does or does not qualify as soda, energy drinks, candy or highly processed foods.
As the Wall Street Journal reports, confusion is only growing as different state governments implement the reforms differently (1).
Retailers and shoppers are discovering that what counts as eligible depends on where you live and how the product is classified.
Food retailers are being forced to make fast, and sometimes confusing, changes at the checkout line.
A lot of money is on that line: $99.8 billion in SNAP purchases in 2024 alone, making SNAP purchases a major share of grocery sales, especially in rural or low-income areas.
Here’s why the SNAP crackdown is leaving a sour taste in people’s mouths, and how grocers and shoppers are coping with it.
A smorgasbord of state SNAP restrictions
While SNAP is federally funded, it is administered by individual states, giving each one discretion to define which foods qualify under the new guidance.
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That flexibility has led to a patchwork of rollouts and rules. These states implemented SNAP food restrictions on Jan. 1:
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Nebraska
- Utah
- West Virginia
Idaho, Oklahoma and Louisiana just joined that list, according to Live Now Fox (2).
These states will follow later this year:
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Missouri
- North Dakota
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
In some of these states, soda is banned, but some candy is still allowed. In others, both are restricted.
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How this shift is hitting food retailers at checkout
As the Wall Street Journal reports, small differences — such as whether a snack contains flour, is carbonated or sweetened with fruit juice — can determine whether an item is approved at checkout.
For grocery stores, that complexity creates real operational challenges — including reclassifying products and reprogramming point-of-sale systems. Another big challenge? Staff training.
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Mark Griffin owns B&R Stores, a chain of 33 stores in Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri. That means his staff must contend with different SNAP restrictions in each state.
“We did a massive effort to educate our people in our stores about what was happening and prepare them for confrontations that might occur,” Griffin told the Wall Street Journal.
When SNAP customers bring an ineligible item to the checkout, clerks must not only take time to explain to the customer that the item doesn’t qualify but also return ineligible items to shelves.
It’s slowing service and may cost retailers sales as frustrated SNAP customers take their benefits elsewhere. That’s because SNAP benefits can be used in any state, not just where the recipient lives.
Will these restrictions make SNAP beneficiaries healthier?
Critics say that restricting food choices won’t make Americans healthier.
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Kate Bauer, an associate professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, said recent studies suggest that while SNAP shoppers might buy less soda if soda is removed from approved SNAP foods, it won’t have any meaningful impact on their overall dietary intake (3).
Bauer added that the restrictions will likely only increase stigma and discrimination against SNAP recipients.
“We heard countless stories of SNAP participants experiencing judgmental comments and humiliation while grocery shopping — strangers criticizing their food choices and even telling children that their parents shouldn't use food stamps,” she said.
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How SNAP shoppers can prepare for these changes
For people who rely on SNAP benefits, the new rules may require more time spent planning shopping trips — and perhaps more time traveling to shop in a less restrictive state if that’s an option.
Here are a few ways SNAP beneficiaries can reduce surprises:
- Look for SNAP-eligible labels: Some stores are adding shelf tags or stickers that clearly mark which items qualify.
- Check your state’s rules ahead of time: State human services or workforce agency websites often publish eligibility charts and examples that can help clarify rules.
- Build extra time into grocery trips: New restrictions can mean longer checkout lines or item substitutions, so allocating more time can help reduce frustration.
- Shop during slower hours: If you’re worried about holding up the line, early mornings or weekdays tend to be less busy.
- Keep a backup plan: Having a short list of alternative items can help if something comes up as ineligible. This can help you make quick swaps and avoid multiple trips through checkout.
As more states implement restrictions on which foods are SNAP-eligible, both shoppers and retailers are likely to face a learning curve.
Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
Wall Street Journal (1); Live Now Fox (2); University of Michigan (3)
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Danielle is a personal finance writer based in Ohio. Her work has appeared in numerous publications including Motley Fool and Business Insider. She believes financial literacy key to helping people build a life they love.
