Overview
- Texas will begin a two-year pilot in April that blocks SNAP purchases of sweetened drinks and candy, using definitions that flag any beverage with five grams or more of added sugar per serving or any artificial sweetener, with exemptions for milk and drinks that are more than 50% juice.
- Florida will launch a separate two-year pilot later in April that bars soda, energy drinks, candy, and shelf-stable prepared desserts from SNAP, with state officials required to track results and report on the changes through the waiver period.
- Enforcement falls on stores, not shoppers, as point-of-sale systems must recognize and reject restricted items, which requires recoding products, updating software, and training staff and may lead to early checkout errors.
- Food banks in the Tampa Bay area say need has grown by roughly 30% over the past year and warn the new limits could push more families to seek help, while a Farmer’s Feeding Florida Program in the state’s farm bill awaits the governor’s signature to boost supply for charities.
- USDA has approved similar waivers in 22 states as part of a broader shift in SNAP policy, with federal rules tightened in 2025 on work and eligibility requirements, and with Minnesota lawmakers this week halting a separate junk‑food ban proposal that highlighted practical hurdles for retailers.