Six States to Ban Junk Food from Food Stamps in 2026

Six U.S. states will soon restrict what people can buy with federal food assistance. Starting in 2026, Hawai'i, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia can remove unhealthy items from their SNAP programs. SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, helps low-income Americans buy groceries. Currently, recipients can purchase almost any food item, including soda and candy. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has now approved these states to change their rules. They can narrow the official definition of "food" for SNAP purchases. This will exclude products with low nutritional value. The goal is to improve public health and encourage better diets. Each state will decide exactly which items to ban. The change will not reduce the total benefit amount people receive. This move follows similar actions by a small number of other states. It signals a growing policy shift to use SNAP to promote nutrition.