On April 1, new Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program rules will take effect that prohibit beneficiaries from purchasing candy or sweetened drinks with program funds.
The new rule is a result of legislation passed last year that is meant to support the nutrition of Texans who receive SNAP benefits.
Texas lawmakers have called the measure “a cornerstone of the Make America Healthy Again movement.” Lawmakers also argued that the funding of soda and junk food with tax dollars eventually will lead to a need for taxpayer-subsidized healthcare.
Following the effective date, SNAP beneficiaries will no longer be able to purchase candy, gum, and sweetened drinks. The term “sweetened drink” includes any beverage containing 5 grams or more of added sugar or any amount of artificial sweetener.
Any “fruit, raisins and nuts that have been candied, crystalized, glazed or coated with chocolate, yogurt or caramel” are also included in the restriction for use of funds.
State lawmakers who supported the measure cited data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that shows nearly 20 percent of SNAP benefits are used to purchase sugary drinks and snack food.
“Texas is leading the way in aligning SNAP benefits with healthier food options,” Gov. Greg Abbott said. “By implementing these changes, we encourage better nutrition and ensure this program helps families access nutritional food. I thank the Trump Administration and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for their work to strengthen this program and better serve Texans.”
Abbott sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins requesting a waiver to enact these restrictions on SNAP funds in May 2025, as required for the implementation of state level changes to SNAP requirements.
Texas’ waiver was approved by Rollins in August.
Until the Trump administration, such proposals by states were denied by the USDA. Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urged governors to submit a waiver for removing “non-nutritious items” from SNAP eligibility; 17 states besides Texas have passed similar legislation to improve nutrition for SNAP recipients.
The rule is being implemented by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which has posted materials for consumers and retailers about the change on its website.
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