Ohio will bar sugary sodas from SNAP purchases

The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved Ohio's request to prohibit sugary carbonated drinks from purchases using SNAP benefits; the change affects about 1.3 million Ohio recipients and is scheduled to take effect October 1, 2026.

Ohio will prohibit the purchase of sugary carbonated drinks with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits after the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the state's waiver request. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services said the approval follows recommendations from a work group appointed by Governor Mike DeWine. About 1.3 million people in Ohio receive SNAP benefits and the change was announced as part of efforts to address long-term health outcomes. Key facts: - The USDA approved Ohio's request to prohibit sugary carbonated drinks from being bought with SNAP benefits. - State officials and the appointed work group cited links between sugary carbonated drinks and chronic health conditions and recommended the waiver. - The restriction is scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2026, and the work group proposed placing compliance responsibility on retailers and evaluating the policy's effects. Summary: Officials say the waiver was requested to support healthier outcomes for residents receiving food assistance. The waiver has been approved at the federal level and a start date of October 1, 2026, has been announced; evaluation and monitoring were recommended to assess impacts.