Overview

• Nebraska will implement the nation’s first SNAP restrictions on soda and energy drinks starting January 1, 2026, impacting over 150,000 recipients.
• Kansas has formally submitted a waiver to the USDA seeking to ban SNAP purchases of candy and soda, tying the request to funding for a summer meal program.
• The Make America Healthy Again initiative under the Trump administration encourages state-led nutrition reforms, with Nebraska's waiver marking a significant precedent.
• Critics argue these restrictions may increase food insecurity, complicate program administration, and reflect paternalistic attitudes toward low-income households.
• Several other states, including Arkansas, Indiana, and Iowa, are pursuing or considering similar SNAP waivers to limit purchases of sugary products.