Texans who receive food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will no longer be able to use their benefits to buy candy or sweetened drinks, according to a news release from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
Texas officials announced that SNAP recipients will no longer be allowed to purchase candy, gum or sweetened beverages with their Lone Star Cards beginning April 1, following a new state law and federal approval of the policy.
The release said the restrictions are intended to align SNAP purchases with healthier food choices and improve long-term nutrition outcomes for low-income households.
Related
Breaking News
“Texas is leading the way in aligning SNAP benefits with healthier food options,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement on Tuesday announcing the change. “By implementing these changes, we encourage better nutrition and ensure this program helps families access nutritional food.”
The restrictions include beverages made with water that contain 5 grams or more of added sugar or any amount of artificial sweetener, the release said.
HHSC said the restrictions will also apply to certain snack products, including fruit, raisins and nuts that have been candied, crystallized, glazed or coated with chocolate, yogurt or caramel.
“I thank Gov. Abbott and the Texas Legislature for taking action to improve long-term health outcomes for SNAP recipients,” Stephanie Muth, executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, said in the release. “These changes will lead to healthier food choices and support the development of healthy eating habits that last a lifetime.”
The change follows action by the Texas Legislature in Senate Bill 379, which directs the state to limit certain SNAP purchases.
Related
According to the governor’s office, Abbott submitted a request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service asking for a waiver that would allow Texas to block SNAP purchases of candy and sweetened drinks. Federal officials approved the waiver in August 2025, the statement said.
SNAP is a federal program administered in Texas by the Health and Human Services Commission that provides food assistance to about 3.3 million low-income Texans, according to HHSC.
In January, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah and West Virginia became the first of at least 18 states to enact waivers setting restrictions on what foods people can purchase through SNAP.
The restrictions are aimed at reducing chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes linked to sweetened drinks and other treats, a top priority in the Make America Healthy Again effort led by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The benefits can still be used to purchase items such as fruits and vegetables, meats, cereals, dairy products, and plants and seeds that allow recipients to grow food, according to the agency.
Products that will no longer be eligible:
Candy barsGumTaffyNuts, raisins or fruits that have been candied, crystallized, glazed or coated with chocolate, yogurt or caramel.Sweetened drinks, including nonalcoholic beverages made with water, that contain 5 grams or more of added sugar or any amount of artificial sweetener.
Items that can be purchased include beverages that:
Contain milk or milk products like soy, rice or similar milk substitutes.Have more than 50% vegetable or fruit juice by volume.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.