SNAP Benefits Update As Junk Food Ban To Hit Hundreds of Thousands
Alabama has passed a law that moves the state toward restricting the purchase of candy and soda under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), pending federal approval.
Why It Matters
SNAP is a federal program that provides low-income individuals and families with funds to purchase food. Alabama lawmakers argued that restricting the purchase of high-sugar items under the program would improve public health.
Critics of the legislation argue that the policy is unlikely to significantly improve health outcomes and instead places additional restrictions on low-income households, who often opt to purchase more calorie dense foods on SNAP as they are cheaper than healthier alternatives.
What To Know
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed SB57 into law on Wednesday, which requires the state to seek a federal waiver to exclude candy and soda from being eligible to purchase on SNAP.
If approved by the Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, the changes will affect around 750,000 Alabamians on the program and would be in effect from October 1.
According to the bill's text, candy is defined as "food products that list sugar, cane sugar, corn syrup, or high fructose corn syrup as a primary ingredient."
This definition includes chocolate bars, candy and chewing gum, but not prepared desserts, bakery items and ingredients used for baking and cooking.
Soda is described as "beverages that list, as the first two ingredients, any combination of: (i) carbonated water; and (ii) sugar, cane sugar, corn syrup, or high fructose corn syrup." Diet sodas would still be allowed as the definition does not include drinks with low or non-caloric sweeteners.
If the waiver is approved, Alabamian retailers who accidentally accept SNAP benefits for the purchase of candy and soda more than three times in a fiscal year could be subject to fines or penalties.
The legislation was sponsored by Republican state Senator Arthur Orr and state Representative Reed Ingram.
Orr argued that Alabama has one of the highest rates of obesity in the country and that the bill could help reduce obesity and in turn lower Medicaid costs.
The Alabama Senate passed the bill last week after the House agreed to remove an amendment that would have also banned the purchase of energy drinks.
What People Are Saying
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey said: "We are promoting healthier diets for Alabama SNAP beneficiaries by restricting the purchase of sugary foods that contribute to obesity and diabetes. These efforts along with several other pieces of legislation lay a solid foundation as we partner with the Trump Administration in improving rural healthcare delivery to better meet the needs of the public."
Republican state Senator Arthur Orr, who sponsored the bill, said, according to local outlet WAFF: "Our state is unfortunately one of the most obese states in the country. And a large proportion of the Medicaid population, which we pay for at the state level and the federal level, is on the SNAP program," adding that we “may affect the obesity rate and thereby also reduce our Medicaid cost."
Chelsea Edwards, a dietician who works with Huntsville Nutrition Collective and has worked with low-income families, told WAFF: "Low-income houses often rely on higher-calorie foods to meet their energy needs because they need to maximize the calories per dollar when they're purchasing foods. I don't think it will do as much to improve health, whereas creating access to fruits and vegetables within food deserts could do a lot more."
What Happens Next
The Alabama Department of Human Resources will submit the waiver request to the federal Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service. If approved, the state will begin implementing the restrictions from October 1.
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This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 5:26 AM.