Ohio is moving forward with a purchasing ban on carbonated, sugary drinks from food assistance programs. Governor Mike DeWine shared his preference for not using SNAP to purchase sugary beverages in July, via his partial veto of budget language that retained the ban but created a workgroup to provide recommendations for a federal waiver request to ban certain beverages from SNAP. The workgroup has recommended that Ohio seek a ban on carbonated beverages high in sugar or similar caloric sweeteners.
Specifically, the workgroup has recommended that Ohio seek a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prevent the use of SNAP benefits to purchase beverages that list sugar, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, or similar caloric sweeteners as the primary ingredient or as the second ingredient if the first ingredient is carbonated water. The report goes on to say that these drinks have been shown to have minimal nutritional value and to contribute to conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension.
More than 1.5 million Ohioans use SNAP to help buy groceries.
Not everyone welcomes the proposed ban
Supporters of retaining current SNAP regulations say that new rules infringe on consumer choice and could increase stigma for kids whose families make less money. More than 1.5 million Ohioans use SNAP to help buy groceries.
Rachel Cahill, a visiting fellow for The Center for Community Solutions and Community Solutions representative to the workgroup, attempted to amend the start date to a single October 1st implementation, but the motion was rejected in a 7-4 vote. She called a potential July 1st start "dangerous," given that the drink restriction would begin at the same time the state and county JFS offices are grappling with federal eligibility requirement changes.
Simultaneously, the state will be trying to lower its error rate in response to a federal change requiring states to foot a portion of the SNAP bill based on how accurately benefits are issued.
Cahill said that people unhappy with the inability to purchase sodas with SNAP benefits are likely to call their county JFS, which are the entities responsible for bringing down the error rate.
If approved, Ohio would join 12 other states like Texas and Florida in restricting soda pop.
Other SNAP recommendations in the waiver
The recommendations, if approved by the governor, will be used by ODJFS to submit a waiver to the federal government by October 28, 2025. Other recommendations include:
• Establishing an implementation date subject to federal approval
• Focusing compliance on retailers, not SNAP recipients, but giving retailers a grace period to avoid sanctions as they implement the new restrictions
• Implementing robust evaluation and monitoring to measure the effectiveness of the changes on health outcomes and healthy behaviors
• Supporting healthy incentives by investing in programs that reward healthy choices
• Seeking an additional waiver to allow SNAP purchases of prepared chicken (e.g., rotisserie, baked, grilled) that is not breaded or fried, which offer convenience and nutritional value.
If approved, Ohio would join 12 other states like Texas and Florida in restricting soda pop. DeWine’s spokesperson said that the office is in the process of formalizing the waiver soon, as the deadline is in late October. USDA Food and Nutrition Service must approve the waiver for the ban to take effect.
Sources
Gongwer Ohio Report, September 23, 2025
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