BATON ROUGE — Beginning today, Feb. 18, 2026 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients will no longer be able to use their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards to buy ‘certain non-nutritious foods’.
The change comes under the approval of Louisiana’s Food Restriction Waiver, which Governor Jeff Landry approved last year.
So far 18 states have adopted the SNAP Food Restriction Waiver.
SNAP recipients in Louisiana will no longer be able to buy soft drinks, energy drinks, or candy, which includes gum and mints. People can still purchase these items with cash, debit, or other funds, but cannot use an EBT card.
Signs about the restrictions have been up at some stores across the state for weeks, reminding shoppers about what they will and won’t be able to buy.
The goal of the food restriction waiver is to put nutrition-dense foods at the center of SNAP, and enable healthier lifestyles for Louisiana families. The EBT card can be used to buy fruits and vegetables, meats, poultry, and fish, dairy products, breads cereals, and grains, and seeds and plants to grow food at home.
According to the Louisiana Department of Health’s website, the change is happening because the state 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.”
What you can and can’t buy
A soft drink is defined as any carbonated, non-alcoholic beverage containing high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners. Carbonated water, beverage that contain milk or milk products, soy rice, or milk substitutes don’t fall into this category. Any drink with equal to or greater than 50% of vegetable or fruit juice by volume isn’t considered a soft drink either.
Energy drinks are any beverage containing a stimulant like fortified caffeine, guarana, glucuronolactone, or taurine. They may also include herbal extracts or high doses of organic acids, amino acids, inositol, sugars, or other similar compounds.
Candy is categorized as preparation of sugar, honey, or other natural or artificial sweeteners in combination with chocolate, fruits, nuts, or other flavorings in the form of bars, drops, or pieces. It also includes gum and mints, but doesn’t include protein bars, granola bars, or baking ingredients.
Download the Unfiltered with Kiran app from the Apple App Store and Google Play to stay updated on the latest news across the Capital area.
Support UWK and its mission to deliver The News You Deserve. Unfiltered. Become a monthly patron on Patreon today!
