Hawaii, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee have become the latest states approved to pilot waivers restricting the purchase of sugary drinks with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. According to a new announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the approvals were issued under the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative and will take effect in 2026.
SNAP is the nation’s largest food assistance program, helping more than 40 million people bring home the groceries they need to feed their families. Voices for Healthy Kids, an initiative of the American Heart Association, and the National Collaborative for Infants & Toddlers (NCIT) are committed to making sure every family has the opportunity to thrive, no matter their income. Access to nutritious food is key to this mission as it gives children the chance to grow, parents the strength to work and care for their families, and communities the foundation for better health.
According to the American Heart Association, sugary drinks are the number one source of added sugars in our diet.
“As public health advocates, we support policies that make it easier for families to make healthy choices,” said Lori Fresina, vice president and executive director of Voices for Healthy Kids. “Sugary drinks are the single largest source of added sugars in the U.S. diet, and reducing consumption is one of the most effective ways to lower risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.”
The American Heart Association says the goal is to support healthier choices, reduce the burden of diet-related diseases and provide researchers and policymakers with stronger data about how SNAP rules affect public health outcomes.
With Wednesday’s announcement, Hawaii, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee join previously approved states – Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia – bringing the total to 18 states with USDA-authorized sugary drink waivers under MAHA.
These waivers, authorized in 2025 and set to roll out in 2026, prohibit purchases such as fruit-flavored drinks, sweetened coffees and teas, energy drinks, soda, and similar products with federal food assistance. Each state’s waiver includes its own definition of excluded items, based on its submission to USDA.
“Limiting sugary drink purchases through SNAP is an important step forward, but it cannot stand alone,” said Fresina. “To make sure these waivers truly improve health and wellness, they must be paired with other policies to reduce sugary drink consumption and help families afford healthier offerings.”
As USDA approves new SNAP waivers, the American Heart Association and NCIT stress the need for comprehensive sugary drink definitions, meaningful evaluation, and incentives that make healthy foods more affordable.
To strengthen these waivers, the Association, as well as NCIT, stresses that states must also:
- Use a broad and inclusive definition of sugary drinks to ensure all sugary drinks are captured.
- Evaluate sugary drink waivers to determine whether they are effective, equitable and sustainable. The results should inform future policy.
- Expand proven SNAP incentive programs, such as “Double Up Food Bucks,” that make fruits and vegetables more affordable and accessible. These efforts help SNAP participants be able to afford healthy fruits and vegetables, which can be costly.
With these six new approvals now moving forward, the spotlight is now on how well these pilot programs can balance access, choice, and improved health outcomes as states prepare for implementation in 2026.
