SNAP Food Restriction Waiver | Louisiana Department of Health

SNAP Food Restriction Waiver | Louisiana Department of Health SNAP Food Restriction Waiver SNAP Food Restriction Waiver Effective February 18, 2026: The SNAP Food Restriction Waiver, also known as the SNAP Healthy Foods Waiver, introduces additional restrictions prohibiting the purchase of specific sugar-laden items to encourage a more nutritious diet and improve public health outcomes. For SNAP Benefit Recipients If you receive SNAP benefits, the approval of Louisiana’s SNAP Healthy Foods Waiver means you will no longer be able to use your Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card to buy certain non-nutritious foods. This is designed to encourage healthier choices and help reduce obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and other diet-related health issues. These changes aim to put nutrition-dense food back at the center of the SNAP program, enabling healthier lifestyles for Louisiana’s families. If you live in a food desert with limited access to healthy options, consider utilizing programs like farmers’ markets that accept SNAP. What You Can’t Buy Soft Drinks Any carbonated, non-alcoholic beverage containing high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners. The term does not include flavored carbonated water, nor does it include any beverages that contain milk or milk products, soy rice, or similar milk substitutes, or any beverage containing equal to or greater than 50% of vegetable or fruit juice by volume. Energy Drinks Carbonated or non-carbonated beverages containing a stimulant such as fortified caffeine, guarana, glucuronolactone, or taurine. They may also include herbal extracts such as ginseng, mineral salts and vitamins, or high doses of organic acids, amino acids, inositol, sugars or other similar compounds in addition to sweeteners. Juices or natural fruit pulp or concentrates may also be added. Energy drinks are specifically formulated to enhance energy, alertness, or physical performance. Candy A preparation of sugar, honey, or other natural or artificial sweeteners in combination with chocolate, fruits, nuts, or other ingredients or flavorings in the form of bars, drops, or pieces. The candy exclusion includes any such preparation that also contains flour and is sold in the form of bars, drops, or pieces. This definition includes gum and mints. This definition does not include protein bars, granola bars or baking ingredients such as sprinkles, chocolate melting wafers, toffee bits, or chocolate chips. What You Can Still Buy Fruits and vegetables Meats, poultry, and fish Dairy products like milk and cheese Breads, cereals, and grains Seeds and plants for growing food at home Helpful Tips Plan meals around whole foods and nutritious staples. Look for SNAP-eligible healthy incentives programs in your area, which may offer bonuses for buying fruits and vegetables: eHIP Greaux the Good Market Match Recipient Resources Informational Email Text Messages Frequently Asked Questions What is changing with SNAP? Starting February 18, 2026 , all SNAP households can no longer use SNAP benefits to buy: Soft drinks Energy drinks Candy (including gum and mints) Why is this change happening? Louisiana faces high rates of diet-related illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease. Improving diet quality is one of the most effective ways to prevent these outcomes. Frequent purchases of sugar-sweetened beverages, energy drinks, and candy add calories with little to no nutritional value. To support better choices without increasing burden on families or stores, Louisiana is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to align SNAP purchasing rules with public health goals by removing a number of low-nutrition items (soft drinks, energy drinks, and candy) from SNAP eligibility. These changes do not affect benefit levels or household eligibility. They preserve broad customer choice while helping families build healthier shopping habits. Who decided these restrictions? This change is part of a federally approved demonstration project under Governor Jeff Landry’s Executive Order 25-052 , issued in 2025. Can I still use SNAP for other foods? Yes. You can continue to use SNAP benefits to purchase: Fruits and vegetables Meat, poultry, and fish Dairy products Bread and cereals Other foods meant to be prepared and eaten at home Will I be able to buy soft drinks, energy drinks, or candy, at all? Yes, but not with SNAP benefits. You may still buy them with cash, debit, or other funds How will stores know what I can’t buy with SNAP? Retailers will update their systems so that soft drinks, energy drinks, and candy cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits. If one of these items is in your cart, the system will prompt you to provide another form of payment for the ineligible item. How long will this project last? The project will begin on February 18, 2026, and end on January 12, 2028. Where can I get more information? Call the Customer Service Center at 888-524-3578 or email [email protected] Ask your caseworker during your next appointment. For Retailers As an authorized SNAP retailer in an affected state, you must comply with the following requirements to continue accepting EBT payments. This involves ensuring that restricted items cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits. Compliance Requirements Update your point-of-sale (POS) systems and any third-party e-commerce systems to flag and block restricted products during SNAP transactions. Complete and submit the state-provided self-attestation form by January 7, 2026. Retain a copy onsite for your records. Train staff on the new rules to avoid errors and ensure smooth checkouts. Use any required state-issued signage/templates in-store. Review USDA-FNS Clarifications on SNAP Food Restriction Waivers and Retailer Compliance Access the SNAP-ineligible products list, provided by Nielsen NIQ Brandbank, using the link below. Louisiana SNAP Ineligible Products List Authorized SNAP retailers who have not received the password via email must contact [email protected] Helpful Tips USDA Food and Nutrition Service: SNAP for Retailers USDA Food and Nutrition Service: SNAP Rule Waivers USDA Food and Nutrition Service : SNAP Retailer Training Materials Consider tools for automated compliance support. Retailer Resources SNAP Waiver Flyers SNAP Waiver Rack Cards Frequently Asked Questions What is the SNAP Healthy Foods Waiver? A federal pilot limiting the purchase of soft drinks, energy drinks, and candy with SNAP benefits, which helps encourage healthier eating, while providing opportunities to evaluate the impacts of the restrictions on retailers and households. Who must participate? All SNAP-authorized retailers in Louisiana including supermarkets, small grocers, convenience stores, and farmers' markets. What if my staff allows a restricted item by mistake? Staff must void and reprocess the transaction. Staff must document repeated errors. Continued violations may result in compliance action. What is required for SNAP-authorized retailers for the SNAP Healthy Foods Waiver? Retailers must complete, sign, and date the Louisiana SNAP-Authorized Retailer Attestation Form attesting to comply with USDA SNAP requirements, specifically the new SNAP food restrictions on soft drinks, energy drinks, and candy. Will my POS system need an update? Yes. Updates ensure restricted items cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits. Contact your POS vendor immediately. What if my system cannot be updated right away? There will be no exemptions for retailers that are unable to make the necessary system changes. However, an in-store-only workaround, such as separating purchases into two separate transactions of SNAP-eligible and non-SNAP-eligible, can be established. Work-arounds will be offered (manual monitoring, signage). How should I respond to customer complaints? Refer customer complaints to the Customer Service Call Center at 888-LAHELP-U (888-524-3578) or via email at [email protected] Who do I contact with questions? You may contact the Retailer Help Desk at 225-342-2342 or [email protected] . For technical support, please contact your POS vendor. Additional Resources Contact For SNAP recipient questions about eligibility or appeals, call 888-524-3578 or email [email protected] For retailer questions, email [email protected] Surgeon General Evelyn Griffin, MD Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein Cicero Government