Tennessee to ban junk food from SNAP in 2026 after waiver approval

From Local 3 News: Tennessee will prohibit the use of SNAP benefits to buy sodas and other high-calorie foods made primarily with sugar beginning in 2026, following federal approval of the state’s request for new restrictions.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved Tennessee’s waiver on Wednesday, allowing the state to bar SNAP purchases of items where the main ingredient is sugar, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, or similar sweeteners.

The change also applies to drinks in which the first two ingredients are carbonated water and a sugar-based sweetener.

State officials said the policy will still allow SNAP recipients to buy hot prepared chicken while restricting purchases of sodas and certain prepared foods.

The waiver reads:

Dear Governor Lee:

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is pleased to approve the Tennessee Department of Human Services' request to operate a novel demonstration project to amend the statutory definition of food for purchase by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients. The Tennessee state agency has requested to amend the SNAP definition of food for purchase to exclude processed foods and beverages such as soda, energy drinks, and candy. The state agency formally requested this waiver on Aug. 13, 2025, then provided a revised request on Sept. 29, 2025. This approval, subject to the enclosed terms and conditions, is for two years, effective July 31, 2026.

Due to the novel design of the project, FNS is committed to carefully and comprehensively evaluating how waiving the state's definition of food in this way impacts SNAP participants and retailers. FNS will carefully review the results of the project, based on the evaluation data provided by the state and other available information.

FNS will continue to collaborate with the state, and any potential evaluation contractor to finalize data collection points, define key metrics, and outline any necessary data analysis for the quarterly evaluation reports, as well as finalize key implementation parameters such as a threshold standard for participating retailers.

Please submit written acceptance of this approval and the terms and conditions signed by the appropriate state official. Attach this acceptance letter to a chatter post in WIMS case # 00013291. Please tag the relevant regional and national staff listed in the WIMS case team using the @ sign when uploading this document.

FNS appreciates the state's willingness to test innovative approaches to support healthy choices, and healthy outcomes to best serve SNAP participants. FNS is committed to working with the state to obtain robust data to inform ways to improve nutrition assistance programs.

Sincerely,
Brooke L. Rollins
Secretary
U.S. Department of Agriculture