Starting Thursday, Nebraska will implement new restrictions on EBT card purchases, prohibiting SNAP benefit recipients from buying sugary and caffeinated beverages. This change affects approximately 75,000 households in Nebraska, who will no longer be able to purchase sodas, soft drinks, and energy drinks using their benefits.
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) offers a detailed list of restricted items on their FAQ webpage:
- Sodas and soft drinks are defined as “any carbonated non-alcoholic beverage that contains water, a sweetening agent, flavoring, and carbon dioxide gas to create carbonation.”
- Energy drinks are characterized by containing stimulants such as caffeine or taurine and are “formulated to enhance energy, alertness, or physical performance.”
Exemptions to these restrictions include hydrating sports drinks, mineral water, fruit and vegetable juices, liquid food substitutes, and coffee and teas without added caffeine.
Retailers in the state are tasked with updating their systems to prevent the sale of these newly restricted items.
In a pioneering move, Nebraska became the first state to receive a federal waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ban the purchase of soda and energy drinks. The state applied for this waiver in April, highlighting the adverse effects of caffeine on children and the potential for chronic diseases.
Besides Nebraska, 17 other states have adopted similar measures. Starting Thursday, new restrictions will also be enforced in Indiana, Iowa, Utah, and West Virginia, with Iowa extending the ban to include candy and certain prepared foods.
Those using SNAP benefits from other states will not be able to purchase soda and energy drinks in Nebraska. However, Nebraska EBT cardholders may still buy these items in states that do not have similar restrictions.
Waivers are granted if state regulation changes lead to a more effective and efficient program administration. No previous presidential administration has approved such waivers for SNAP.
These restrictions are part of the Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, led by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“We cannot continue a system that forces taxpayers to fund programs that make people sick and then pay a second time to treat the illnesses those very programs help create,” Kennedy stated in a USDA press release dated December 10.
The “MAHA” initiative seeks policy changes designed to prevent and manage chronic diseases, promote healthier living, and limit processed food consumption. Additionally, it aims to reduce prescription drug costs and reconsider existing vaccine recommendations.
During the 43-day government shutdown in 2025, Nebraska’s SNAP program faced a two-week halt due to depleted funds, resulting in increased demand at food banks. Unfortunately, refugees were left without support, as they lost eligibility following the “One, Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The act also introduced work requirements for able-bodied adults aged 18-65.
