More than 1.4 million recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program across five states will be banned from using federal food assistance for candy and soda purchases, starting Thursday.

Louisiana will restrict the use of SNAP benefits for certain food items starting February 18, 2026. The new rules prohibit using SNAP funds to buy soft drinks, energy drinks, candy, gum, and mints.

During this fall’s government shutdown, when food banks faced lines circling the block, President Donald Trump didn’t seem to understand that he’d become the face of his administration’s refusal to ...