Louisiana’s new SNAP rules will ban soda, candy and energy drinks starting in 2026 , and there are specific definitions of what that means for shoppers.

Candy bars are off limits, but families can still buy chocolate chips. Energy drinks are not allowed, but Gatorade is, as long as it’s full sugar and not the artificially sweetened version. The rules apply to all of the roughly 850,000 SNAP recipients in the state.

The goal, according to Gov. Jeff Landry’s administration, is to improve health outcomes and reduce the state’s Medicaid costs by limiting access to foods linked to chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity.

“This is about getting Louisiana healthy again, which is in coordination with the President's effort to make America healthy again,” Landry said on a recent podcast r

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