Beginning January 1, 2026, sugary drinks and candy will no longer be eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits in Indiana. USDA/Food and Nutrition Service is primarily responsible for compliance. With that, USDA/FNS has informed the state that a 90-day grace period is in place from the implementation date of January 1, 2026.
Retailers are encouraged to email questions to SmartSNAPInquiries@fssa.IN.gov.
Announcements
Retailer meetings
The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration Division of Family Resources will hold Smart SNAP Retailer meetings to provided an updates on the Make Indiana Healthy Again initiative to remove sugary soft drinks and candy from the taxpayer-funded SNAP.
Upcoming meetings:
- Feb. 3: 9 - 9:30 a.m. ET - Click here to join
- Feb. 12: 3 - 3:30 p.m. ET - Click here to join
Recordings:
Retailer Toolkit
To help raise awareness about the changes to SNAP benefit, please consider sharing and posting the resources below. Suggestions for additional materials may be sent to SmartSNAPInquiries@fssa.IN.gov.
Self-Attestation of Compliance form
Retailers need to submit the completed form below to SmartSNAPInquiries@fssa.IN.gov by Jan. 31, 2026.
Flyers
- Attention SNAP Benefit Recipients : Starting Jan. 1, 2026, SNAP benefits cannot be used to purchase sugary drinks or candy.
- Examples of approved and not approved sugary drinks and candy
Social Media:
- Image
- Text: Coming Jan. 1: Smart SNAP means healthier choices for Hoosiers. SNAP benefits will no longer cover sugary drinks or candy — helping families build stronger futures. Learn more here:https://on.in.gov/l86xw
Smart SNAP labels
- Smart SNAP approved and not approved labels
- These labels may be printed to help identify items that are approved and not approved for purchase with SNAP benefits.
Commonly Questioned Items
The list below are commonly questioned items and is meant for general guidance purposes only and not a definitive list of all items allowed and not allowed to be purchased using SNAP benefits.
| Item | Allowed | Not Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Protein bars | X | |
| Granola bars | X | |
| Cereal bars | X | |
| Fruit snacks (example roll-ups) | X | |
| Chocolate covered nuts | X | |
| Chocolate covered fruit | X | |
| Chocolate covered pretzels | X | |
| Yogurt covered pretzels | X | |
| Chocolate milk | X | |
| Unsweetened bakers chocolate | X | |
| Baked goods (muffins, cookies, cakes,etc.) | X | |
| No bake cookies | X | |
| Flavored honey sticks (with no other sweetener) | X | |
| Marshmallows | X | |
| Potato chips | X | |
| Ice cream | X | |
| Gum | X | |
| Mints | X | |
| Candy bars or pieces | X | |
| Chocolate chips | X | |
| Caramel/kettle microwave popcorn | X | |
| Caramel corn/kettle corn (pre-popped) | X | |
| Trail mix | X | |
| Fitness/protein drinks | X | |
| Bottled coffee drinks that contain dairy | X | |
| Unsweetened bottled coffee drinks with or without dairy | X | |
| Sweetened bottled coffee drinks that do not contain dairy | X | |
| Sports drinks | X | |
| Powdered drink mixes without sweetener | X | |
| Powdered drink mixes with sweetener | X | |
| Bottled sweetened tea | X | |
| Powdered tea mix with sweetener | X | |
| Powdered tea mix without sweetener | X | |
| Sprinkles and other cake decorating toppings | X | |
| All fountain drinks/slushies, etc. | X |
FAQ
- When should stores start restricting candy and soft drinks from being purchased with SNAP benefits?
The implementation date for these changes is January 1, 2026.
- What are other items that are not included?
We are currently only focused on candy and naturally or artificially sweetened drinks.
- Many other states have specifically asked that retailers NOT develop their own consumer facing communications. Is this your position as well?
We would prefer that you not create your own consumer commutations materials. FNS has requested that DFR provide communication materials. We are currently developing them and will send out an announcement when they are available.
- Does FSSA/DFR plan to communicate these changes to SNAP recipients?
Yes, FSSA/DFR will be communicating directly with SNAP recipients on these changes.
- Often times some products are to tell if they are exempt, who should we contact if we have a question?
Please email SmartSNAPInquiries@fssa.IN.gov with specific questions.
- Will we get a list of items excluded?
We are not providing a list of all excluded items.
- What about potato chips?
At this time, potato chips will continue as an eligible item to be purchased with SNAP.
- Will there be any type of "grace period" provided to retailers so they can program their POS systems appropriately?
USDA/Food and Nutrition Service is primarily responsible for compliance. With that, USDA/FNS has informed the state that a 90-day grace period is in place from the implementation date of January 1, 2026
- Is this the same rule for cash assistance on SNAP cards?
The rules for cash assistance (TANF) on EBT cards will remain unchanged.
- As a small retailer we don’t use GS1. We have to change a flag in our back office system on each individual UPC. Do the definitions follow what is used for sales tax?
We are using the state sales tax as a baseline and the definition for soft drinks does follow the sales tax definition. The candy definition is slightly different as it does not exclude items that contain flour.
The state sales tax list is not intended to be an all inclusive list. - Are there restrictions on both diet and regular?
The soda restriction is on both diet and regular because it contains things that are naturally or artificially sweetened.
- Are energy drinks not included?
Energy drinks will not be allowed to be purchased with SNAP benefits.
- What about Gatorade and Pedialyte?
Gatorade or other sports drinks will not be allowed to be purchased with SNAP benefits. Pedialyte will be allowable.
- You keep saying “use these GS1 bricks,” but some of us do not have GS1
GS-1 is no longer being used as a baseline.
- Has the state been in discussion with FMI and Nielson IQ RE a UPC list? Many other states are looking at this as a potential UPC level list solution
Yes, we have been in contact with FMI and await their response in providing a potentially viable UPC level list.
- What about sweet tea vs. unsweetened tea?
Unsweetened tea is allowed to be purchased using SNAP benefits but sweet tea is not.
- What about zero sugar drinks like Celsius?
Celsius is an energy drink so would no longer be eligible for purchase with SNAP
- Are farmers' markets included?
Yes
- What is the fruit juice percentages that are allowed to be purchased with SNAP benefits?
Fruit juices must be exclusively naturally sweetened (100%) to be an allowable purchase.