Four US states stop food stamps paying for soda and candy from 1 November

From today, 1 November, food stamp shoppers in Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina and Virginia can no longer use benefits to buy most soda and candy. They are the latest states to limit what the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will pay for, under waivers approved by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The rules differ by state. Virginia blocks only carbonated sweetened drinks, including diet and zero-sugar soda, and leaves candy alone. South Carolina and North Dakota block candy, energy drinks and sweetened drinks, while Montana also blocks shelf-stable desserts. In North Dakota, sweetened drinks with 5 grams or more of added sugar per serving are out.

At the checkout, the register will refuse SNAP payment for a blocked item, but shoppers can still pay cash or use another card. The rules follow the shop, not the shopper’s home state. Montana is giving shops about 90 days to update their tills, so some items may slip through at first.

Benefit amounts do not change. Virginia and South Carolina say eligibility and payment size are unaffected — only the list of items SNAP covers has changed. Eight states already had similar limits: Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah.

South Carolina and North Dakota were due to start on 31 August and 1 September, but the USDA asked them to wait for public comments. The delay followed a 22 June 2026 court ruling cancelling similar waivers in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee and West Virginia. The USDA has appealed; that appeal is still pending.

Why it matters

The change lands the day after Halloween, when soda and candy are heavily promoted. Households that bought them with benefits must now pay cash, while SNAP money goes to groceries that remain eligible. Every state also draws its list differently — a drink blocked in one state may be allowed in the next.

What happens next

More states are in line. Nebraska has asked to block sweetened drinks from 1 December, with candy from 1 March 2027, but the USDA is still deciding. Wyoming, Kansas and Missouri have start dates in early 2027. Montana will review shopping patterns, cross-border shopping and shop feedback — the waivers are trial projects that can still change.

This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.

Sources

• https://www.foodworldnews.com/articles/81761/20261026/snap-soda-limits-start-nov-1-south-carolina-north-dakota-virginia-montana-candy-rules-differ.htm (Food World News, 26 October 2026)
• https://grantshubusa.com/blog/what-can-you-buy-with-food-stamps (GrantsHub USA, checked 28 October 2026)