Approximately 2.7 million individuals receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in five states will soon face new purchasing limits. These changes, initiated by the Trump administration, aim to exclude soda, candy, and additional products from SNAP. The changes roll out over the next six weeks.
According to the USDA’s list of current SNAP food restriction waivers, South Carolina will implement the new rules on August 31, followed by North Dakota on September 1, Montana on September 30, and both Ohio and Virginia on October 1. The most recent figures from the USDA show over 2.6 million SNAP participants in these states as of April.
State-Specific SNAP Changes
South Carolina
South Carolina will prohibit SNAP purchases of candy, energy drinks, and soft drinks with added sugar. This includes sweetened tea, fruit punch, lemonade, and sweetened coffee. Beverages like diet and zero-sugar soft drinks will remain eligible. In April, there were 495,445 SNAP participants in South Carolina, marking a 12.7% decrease from the previous year.
North Dakota
North Dakota’s restrictions include candy, energy drinks, and various sweetened drinks. Beverages with at least five grams of added sugar, artificial sweeteners, or less than 50% fruit or vegetable juice are excluded. This includes soda, sweetened tea, lemonade, sports drinks, and bottled coffee drinks. Energy drinks containing at least 65 milligrams of caffeine per eight ounces also fall under this restriction. Eligible items include milk and beverages with over 50% juice. North Dakota had 51,706 SNAP participants in April.
Montana
Beginning September 30, Montana will restrict candy, high-sugar beverages, energy drinks, and shelf-stable prepared desserts. High-sugar beverages are defined as those with more than 10 grams of sugar per eight ounces. Ready-to-eat packaged sweets are restricted, but in-store bakery products are not. Eligible categories include artificially sweetened drinks, beverages with over 50% juice, and unsweetened beverages. Montana had 71,103 SNAP participants in April.
Ohio
On October 1, Ohio will implement changes affecting its largest SNAP population of 1,341,017 people. SNAP won’t cover beverages with sugar, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup as the primary ingredient, or as the second ingredient if carbonated water is first. All fountain drinks will also be banned.
Virginia
Starting October 1, Virginia will begin its restrictions affecting 710,416 SNAP participants recorded in April. The state will no longer cover soda, diet and zero-sugar soda, carbonated energy drinks, and any drinks with at least five grams of sugar per serving. Non-carbonated drinks like lemonade, iced tea, coffee, juice, and milk remain eligible.
Arguments and Legal Battles
Supporters of the restrictions, part of the Make America Healthy Again agenda, include USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins. They argue that SNAP should focus more on nutrition. Some nutrition researchers have also supported these changes. University of Pennsylvania researchers Christina Roberto and Alyssa Moran have previously pointed out evidence of soda consumption leading to health issues like tooth decay and chronic disease.
Critics argue that these restrictions limit choice without addressing why low-income households often opt for more affordable or accessible foods. Staci Gulbin, a freelance health writer and dietitian, suggests promoting healthier purchasing options and providing nutrition resources rather than reducing purchasing power.
Currently, these five states join others like Arkansas and Texas, where food-restriction waivers were already in effect. Legal challenges have arisen, notably when U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson ruled that the USDA exceeded its authority in approving restrictions challenged in several states. Although Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia are still scheduled to implement the changes, the legal situation remains fluid.
Participation in SNAP has declined, dropping over 4.5 million people from July 2025 to April 2026. The states enacting these restrictions saw a decrease of about 298,000 participants in the same timeframe, reflecting broader program changes initiated during the Trump administration.
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