A federal judge has struck down a U.S. Department of Agriculture policy that allowed states, including Louisiana, to limit certain food purchases made with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

The ruling, issued June 22 by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, found that the USDA exceeded its authority when it approved state requests to prohibit the purchase of items such as soft drinks, candy, and other sugary products. The judge determined that federal law already defines what qualifies as eligible food under the SNAP program and that those standards cannot be changed through administrative waivers.

Although the lawsuit was filed on behalf of SNAP recipients in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia, the decision is expected to affect all states that had adopted or were preparing to implement similar restrictions, including Louisiana. Because SNAP is federally funded but administered by individual states, the timing of any changes may differ from state to state. Louisiana officials have not yet announced when or how the ruling will be implemented.

Earlier this year, Louisiana became one of several states to restrict the purchase of certain sugary foods and beverages through the SNAP program as part of an effort to encourage healthier eating habits. Under the court’s ruling, those restrictions can no longer be enforced unless the decision is overturned by a higher court or Congress changes federal law.

The Trump administration has not announced whether it plans to appeal the decision. Following the ruling, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the administration remains committed to promoting healthier food choices through the SNAP program, writing on social media that it “will keep fighting to Make America Healthy Again.”

For now, the court’s decision restores the longstanding federal rules governing eligible SNAP food purchases while the future of the restrictions is determined through the legal process.