Food Stamp Bans on Soda, Candy Expand to Three Additional States

The Trump administration’s crusade to make Americans healthier is about to spread to three new states on the verge of blocking their lowest income residents from using federal food assistance to purchase sugary products, as concerns from grocers about compliance hurdles grow.

By Feb. 18, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit recipients living in Idaho, Louisiana, and Oklahoma will no longer be able to use the program formerly known as food stamps to buy products deemed unhealthy.

Five states already restricted similar items—generally, sodas and candies—at the outset of 2026, with permission from the US Agriculture Department. By October, 18 states ...