A SNAP check will soon work very differently for millions of households after six states secured federal approval to limit junk-food purchases with EBT cards. The decision, confirmed this week, marks one of the biggest policy shifts inside the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in years.
Beginning in 2026, several categories of low-nutritional-value items will no longer be eligible under SNAP in Hawaii, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. Each state has drafted its own rulebook, but the direction is unmistakable: cut sugary, ultra-processed, high-calorie foods out of taxpayer-funded grocery assistance.
What the new SNAP rules change
The USDA has approved all six waiver requests, giving states the authority to redefine which foods can be purchased with an EBT card. It does not reduce the monthly SNAP check, but it does restrict what the balance can be spent on.
The changes are part of a growing wave of state-led adjustments. With these approvals, 18 states have now moved to reshape SNAP’s purchasing limits within the last year, a pace that would have been unthinkable a decade ago.
Each rule package is different, but they all follow the same core idea: if a product is extremely high in sugar, fat or empty calories, it is unlikely to remain eligible once the new rules go live.
What this means for SNAP households
For the more than 40 million residents who rely on SNAP benefits to manage monthly grocery costs, the impact will be practical and immediate. Shoppers who usually rely on snacks, pastries, sweet drinks, or ready-to-eat packaged treats will see those items blocked at checkout.
States plan to phase in communication efforts throughout 2025 so beneficiaries can adapt before enforcement begins. Retailers, meanwhile, will need to update their point-of-sale systems to automatically reject any restricted items.
Which foods may be restricted
Final product lists vary by state, but the restrictions generally focus on items labeled as “junk food” or “low-nutritional-value food.” The categories most frequently targeted include:
- Sugary soft drinks and energy drinks
- Packaged candies and chocolate bars
- Processed pastries, donuts, and industrial baked goods
- Chips, salty snacks, and ultra-processed crisps
- Certain refrigerated or pre-made desserts with minimal nutritional value
Each state will publish its detailed eligibility list well before the 2026 rollout.
Why states are pushing these limits now
The waiver system allows states to request flexibility from USDA rules when they argue that program goals could be better met through adjustments. Over the last two years, a significant bloc of governors has argued that SNAP funds should support healthier purchasing patterns.
The movement also coincides with rising healthcare costs tied to diet-related illness. Studies cited by state officials show obesity-linked conditions adding billions to medical spending annually. Policymakers see the grocery basket as an early lever to shift long-term habits.
What happens next
States will begin preparing during 2025, updating EBT systems, training retailers, and launching public-awareness campaigns. Even though enforcement starts in 2026, the transition period is expected to be long because of the scale of the program.
More states may join. Several waiver applications are still under review at the federal level, and officials have hinted that interest continues to grow.
For now, the confirmed picture is clear: the SNAP check won’t stretch the same way it used to. Millions of households will need to adjust their grocery routines, and the country will be watching whether these restrictions lead to measurable health improvements or simply shift costs elsewhere.