Name: 18 states set to ban SNAP recipients from using benefits for junk food
Uploaded: 2026-01-01T01:31:02.799Z
Duration: 1 min 53 s
Description: In 2026, several states are set to prohibit individuals from purchasing certain junk food items using their federal benefits. Meg Oliver has the details.

In 2026, several states are set to prohibit individuals from purchasing certain junk food items using their federal benefits. Meg Oliver has the details.

Washington

Eighteen U.S. states are set to implement bans on the purchase of junk food with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits as part of the federal 'Make America Healthy Again' initiative. The restrictions, which begin with five states and expand to 18 by fall 2026, will prohibit SNAP recipients from buying items like soft drinks and candy.

Officials state the policy aims to reduce obesity and chronic diseases, but some experts and advocates warn it could increase food insecurity if healthier foods remain unaffordable. The definition of 'ultra processed foods' remains unclear, and state-specific bans vary in scope, with some only targeting soft drinks and others including energy drinks and sweetened beverages.

18 states set to ban SNAP recipients from using benefits for junk food

Well, several states tonight are set to change which items people can buy from the grocery store with their federal food benefits. Now, the restrictions which began tomorrow target junk food. Meg Oliver reports on the impact. Giving up junk food may sound like a new year's resolution, but for some snap recipients, it will soon be the law. On New Year's Day, five states will prohibit items such as soft drinks or candy from being purchased through snap. By the fall of 2026, that will balloon to 18 states. It's about nutrition and there's no, there's no nutrition. These products, we shouldn't be paying for them with taxpayer money. The move is part of the government's make America healthy again initiative designed to reduce obesity and chronic diseases like diabetes. We all agree that we want people to have opportunities to have healthier foods. Stephanie Silvera is a public health professor at Montclair State University. This sounds like a good thing, but is there a risk to this as well? Of course, we don't have a good definition of what do we actually mean by ultra processed foods, right? Where are we drawing those lines? Hawaii's limits apply to just soft drinks, Indiana to soda and candy in south Carolina to candy, energy drink, soft drinks and sweetened beverages. One south Carolina shopper favors the band. I used to buy candy all the time and then we'd run out of food sometimes. But so there is concerned it could make the problem worse. If what we're simply doing is cutting access to those foods without also providing better access or more affordable access to healthy foods, we're going to see a lot more people go hungry. That's because healthier food tends to be more expensive. Silvera suggests adding a tax on less healthy food to bring the cost down and more nutritious choices. All right, Meg Oliver. Thank you. Good to see you.

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