Montana Wins Federal Approval to Bar SNAP Purchases of Candy, Soda Starting This Fall
Why It Matters
Montana SNAP recipients will face new restrictions on what they can buy with federal food assistance dollars beginning September 30, following federal approval of a waiver sought by Gov. Greg Gianforte. The change affects tens of thousands of low-income Montanans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for grocery purchases.
What Happened
The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved Montana’s request to exclude certain food and beverage categories from SNAP-eligible purchases. Gianforte announced the approval Tuesday, months after his administration filed the waiver in March.
The waiver was signed by Department of Public Health and Human Services Director Charlie Brereton. State officials framed the restrictions as an effort to study how limiting nutrient-poor foods affects SNAP households in Montana, citing diet-related chronic illness as a growing concern across the state.
Montana retailers will bear the responsibility of enforcing the new purchase limits at checkout through point-of-sale systems.
What’s Banned Under the New Rules
The state has defined four categories of items that will no longer be purchasable with SNAP benefits:
- Candy: Shelf-stable products combining sugar, honey, or other sweeteners with chocolate, fruit, nuts, or flavorings — including bars, drops, and pieces.
- High-sugar beverages: Non-alcoholic drinks containing more than 10 grams of sugar per eight fluid ounces.
- Energy drinks: Beverages exceeding six milligrams of caffeine per fluid ounce or 140 milligrams total per container, as well as drinks containing certain stimulant ingredients.
- Prepared desserts: Processed, shelf-stable, pre-packaged sweet foods designed for immediate consumption without preparation.
By the Numbers
- Restrictions take effect September 30, 2026
- Sugar threshold for banned beverages: more than 10 grams per 8 oz.
- Caffeine threshold for banned energy drinks: more than 6 mg per fluid oz., or 140 mg per container
- Montana is among nearly two dozen states that have sought similar SNAP purchasing limits
Zoom Out
Montana is part of a broader national trend of Republican-led states pushing to reform SNAP purchasing rules. The movement has gained momentum under the Trump administration, which has signaled openness to granting such waivers as part of a wider effort to tie federal benefit programs to health outcomes and personal accountability.
Montana’s approach aligns with a growing wave of state-level policy changes reshaping how public assistance programs operate at the local level. Supporters argue the restrictions encourage healthier choices and make better use of taxpayer dollars, while some nutrition researchers have cautioned that implementation challenges could create complications for both retailers and benefit recipients.
What’s Next
Montana food retailers will need to update their point-of-sale systems ahead of the September 30 launch date to ensure compliance. State health officials will track the program’s effects on SNAP households as part of the waiver’s stated goal of assessing the dietary and health impact of the restrictions. How smoothly the rollout proceeds at grocery stores and smaller retailers across the state will likely shape how other states approach similar waivers going forward.
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