Ohio SNAP recipients could soon find that some beverages that previously qualified for benefits can no longer be purchased with their EBT cards. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service is seeking public comments on Ohio’s SNAP demonstration project restricting purchases of sugar-sweetened beverages, along with a later modification adding fountain drinks to the list. Ohio has requested an October 1, 2026, implementation date.
For shoppers, the practical issue is simple: if a beverage falls within the state’s restricted categories, SNAP benefits would no longer pay for it even if the same product could previously be purchased with an EBT card.
