Oklahoma will soon remove sodas and candy from approved groceries under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. (Photo by Barbara Hoberock/Oklahoma Voice)
OKLAHOMA CITY – Clients of a government food program will soon have to scratch certain items off their grocery list.
State leaders sought and obtained federal approval to remove sodas and candy from allowable items under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also called SNAP, despite concerns the policy change won’t help improve Oklahoma’s health outcomes.
The program, commonly known as food stamps, is used by individuals who are low income.
Gov. Kevin Stitt in June announced he wanted to ban the purchases as part of his Making Oklahoma Healthy Again campaign.
“It’s common sense – making sure taxpayer dollars aren’t funding the very foods that fuel obesity, diabetes, and chronic disease will pay dividends for generations,” Stitt said in a statement.
The change, effective Jan. 1, 2026, prohibits the use of the program to purchase items such as chocolate bars, hard candies, gummies, caramels, taffy, licorice, mints and chewing gum.
It would not prohibit the purchase of baked goods, such as cakes, muffins, brownies, pastries and bread.
Prohibited items also include carbonated sodas, energy and sports drinks, sweetened teas and lemonades and flavored waters with sweeteners.
Coffee, unsweetened tea, milk and certain fruit and vegetable juices would not be prohibited.
“Oklahoma finds that a portion of SNAP funds are currently spent on non-nutritive items, such as soft drinks and candy, which contribute to obesity, diabetes and other chronic diseases, disproportionately affecting low-income families,” according to the state’s request to remove the items.
Chris Bernard, CEO of Hunger Free Oklahoma, said his group does not support the effort. The group aims to ensure all Oklahomans can access nutritious, affordable food.
“We don’t think there is evidence to show it has any impact on the health of SNAP users,” Bernard said.
The United States Department of Agriculture found that SNAP households nationwide spent 9.25% of funds on sweetened drinks and 2.1% on candy.
The state hopes the changes “will enhance public health, reduce long-term healthcare costs, and align the program with its original purpose of improving food security through nutritious food access,” according to the request.
In June, Oklahoma had 339,407 households, or 696,466 people, on SNAP, said Carrie Snodgrass, a Department of Human Services spokeswoman.
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