SALT LAKE CITY — Utah residents using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will no longer be able to purchase soft drinks with their benefits starting Jan. 1, 2026.
The change follows the passage of H.B. 403 during the 2025 Utah State Legislature. State officials received special permission from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to implement the restriction, making Utah a pioneer in limiting sugary drink purchases within the federal nutrition program.
Rep. Kristen Chevrier, a proponent of the bill, said the move is designed to align the program’s spending with its health-related goals.
“We don’t want to undermine health and fuel chronic disease by subsidizing the purchase of sugary drinks,” Chevrier said. “This innovative change will improve our nutrition program and overall health outlook in the state of Utah.”
Under the new law, a soft drink is defined as a flavored, carbonated beverage sweetened with sugar or artificial sweeteners. The ban does not apply to milk, milk substitutes such as soy or rice milk, or beverages consisting of more than 50% fruit or vegetable juice.
Becky Wickstrom, a spokesperson for the Department of Workforce Services, emphasized that the total amount of monthly benefits for eligible households will remain the same.
“It is a change to what the benefits can purchase,” Wickstrom said. “We have worked closely with the state’s retailers to prepare for this change and are ready for it to take place.”
Officials advised SNAP recipients that soft drinks should now be treated like other ineligible items, such as alcohol, tobacco, and hot prepared foods. These items must be paid for using a separate form of payment at the register.
The Department of Workforce Services has launched a website at jobs.utah.gov/whatyoucanbuy to help residents and retailers navigate the new list of eligible food items.