Soda will no longer be covered under SNAP in Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia is among 18 states whose SNAP food-choice waivers were approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative.

With the release of Virginia’s finalized waiver, officials now confirm that the only food category that will be newly restricted for SNAP purchases beginning in 2026 is sweetened carbonated beverages. Starting April 1, 2026, SNAP benefits may no longer be used in Virginia to buy sodas, diet sodas, “zero” sodas, soft drinks, pop, or carbonated energy drinks that contain added sugars or artificial sweeteners such as high-fructose corn syrup, sucrose, glucose, aspartame, sucralose, and acesulfame potassium. 

The restriction applies solely to carbonated drinks with added sweeteners. Beverages that are non-carbonated, even if sweetened, will remain eligible under SNAP. That includes iced tea, lemonade, juice drinks, chocolate milk, milk substitutes like almond or soy milk, yogurt drinks, infant formula, meal replacement shakes, and sports hydration beverages. Plain or naturally flavored carbonated water with less than five grams of added sugar is also not restricted.

This approval places Virginia among the latest group of states, Hawai‘i, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee, to receive permission to amend the statutory definition of “food for purchase” under SNAP. These new waivers build on earlier approvals in Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, and Utah, bringing the total to 18 states participating in what federal officials describe as an effort to strengthen nutrition standards within the program. 

The announcement was made by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, joined by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., marking another expansion of what the administration calls state-driven reforms to SNAP.

Governor Glenn Youngkin praised the move, tying Virginia’s participation directly to USDA’s increased openness to state experimentation. “These actions build on Secretary Rollins’ ‘Laboratories of Innovation’ initiative, announced on her first day in office, which invites governors to propose state-driven solutions to strengthen federal nutrition programs and protect taxpayer resources,” Youngkin said. 

“Today’s approvals follow previously amended waivers… marking 12 states that have now partnered with USDA and HHS to strengthen SNAP’s nutritional integrity. Each waiver tailors excluded items based on state submissions and will go into effect in 2026.”

Federal officials framed the waivers as part of a broader effort to reorient SNAP toward healthier eating. Secretary Rollins emphasized that the administration is seeking to reestablish SNAP’s core mission: “President Trump has made it clear: we are restoring SNAP to its true purpose – nutrition… With these new waivers, we are empowering states to lead, protecting our children from the dangers of highly-processed foods, and moving one step closer to the President’s promise to Make America Healthy Again.” 

HHS Secretary Kennedy thanked participating governors for pursuing reforms that aim to reduce chronic disease. CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz added that the newly approved waivers represent a “whole-of-government approach” to improving Americans’ health.

In a broader policy statement, the Trump administration said it “is leading bold reform to strengthen integrity and restore nutritional value within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). USDA is empowering states with greater flexibility to manage their programs by approving SNAP Food Restriction Waivers that restrict the purchase of non-nutritious items like soda and candy. These waivers are a key step in ensuring that taxpayer dollars provide nutritious options that improve health outcomes within SNAP.” Virginia’s waiver reflects that focus, but applies restrictions only to sweetened carbonated beverages as submitted by the state.