Soda Purchases Declined 13 Percent After SNAP Sugary Drink Restrictions, Study Finds

Ten states banned soda and candy purchases with SNAP benefits to ensure taxpayer dollars provide nutrition and improve health outcomes. Soda purchases fell about 13 percent among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries after 10 states restricted purchases of sugary drinks with SNAP funds in 2026, a study found. SNAP restriction waivers banned non-nutritious items like soda and candy to ensure that taxpayer dollars are directed toward nutritious options that improve health outcomes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture stated on its website. An August study from the National Bureau of Economic Research—not yet peer-reviewed—evaluated the immediate effects of SNAP food...