In a landmark move aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles and reducing taxpayer-funded purchases of sugary items, Louisiana has become one of the first states in the nation to receive federal approval to ban the purchase of certain junk foods using SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture granted Louisiana’s waiver request on Monday, allowing the state to prohibit SNAP recipients from buying soda, candy, and energy drinks with their EBT cards starting in 2026.

Governor Jeff Landry, who signed an executive order in May directing the state to seek this waiver, called the decision “a win for Louisiana families and for fiscal responsibility.”

“This is about making sure government assistance helps people buy real food — not sugar water and empty calories,” said Landry. “SNAP should be a bridge to better nutrition, not a subsidy for soda companies.”

The newly approved policy aligns Louisiana with five other states — Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and West Virginia — whose waiver requests were approved as part of a broader USDA pilot initiative. The goal is to study whether limiting junk food access through SNAP improves public health outcomes, particularly in low-income communities disproportionately affected by diet-related diseases.

Under the new guidelines, SNAP recipients will no longer be able to use their benefits to purchase:

• Carbonated soft drinks

• Candy bars, gummies, and similar sugar candies

• Energy drinks containing high caffeine and sugar content

SNAP will continue to cover fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, grains, and other staple foods.

The ban is scheduled to go into effect statewide in early 2026, giving stores, SNAP users, and state agencies time to prepare. The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, which administers the SNAP program, plans to release detailed guidance later this year.

Until then, Louisiana’s decision will likely remain a hot topic in national conversations about nutrition, poverty, and the government’s role in shaping public health.