SNAP Benefits Update 2026: Judge Blocks Soda And Candy Purchase Ban In 5 States

SNAP Benefits Soda And Candy Purchase 2026: A federal judge has put a temporary stop to a new plan that would have let five states block SNAP users from buying soda, candy, and some snack foods with food benefits. SNAP, which used to be called the Food Stamp Program, helps more than 40 million people in the United States buy groceries with EBT cards. The program already does not allow buying alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, or hot prepared foods.

The five states affected by the judge’s ruling are:

• Colorado
• Iowa
• Nebraska
• Tennessee
• West Virginia

The fight began after federal officials approved waivers that would have let those five states limit certain purchases. Supporters said the idea would push families toward healthier food choices. They wanted to cut down on sugary drinks and candy that have little or no nutrition. But critics said the rule was unfair to low-income families and would make checkout lines more confusing. They also said it could cost more to run the program and make people feel ashamed for using food aid.

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Why the Court Stepped in

The legal challenge argued that the USDA did not have the power to approve these bans. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson sided with the people who sued. She said the agency went too far when it tried to change what counts as food under SNAP.

In one of the key lines from the ruling, she said, “Congress defined what ‘food’ is supposed to be, and it did not authorize the agency to amend or waive the definition it enacted,” and also, “It did not authorize the agency to cut types of food out of SNAP entirely.”

The judge also said she was ruling on the law, not on whether the idea sounded good or bad. She said the federal government and the states may want to help families make healthier choices, but they must lawfully do that. The USDA had already approved similar food restriction waivers in 23 states, so this ruling may affect a much wider group of SNAP users beyond the five states named in the case, reported Reuters.

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Fight over what SNAP should cover

This case is part of a bigger argument that has been going on for years. Some lawmakers and health experts want SNAP to push people toward healthier food. They say sugary drinks and candy should not be paid for with public money. Others say the real problem is not what SNAP allows, but that healthy food is often too expensive or too hard to find. Anti-hunger groups also warn that extra rules can make life harder for families who already struggle.