LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas residents who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will face new restrictions on certain grocery purchases beginning July 1.
Under a federal waiver approved for Arkansas, SNAP benefits may no longer be used to purchase regular, diet or low-calorie soda; candy; fruit and vegetable drinks containing less than 50% real juice; and certain other beverages.
The Arkansas Department of Human Services lists energy drinks and ready-to-drink coffee or tea products containing added sugar or artificial sweeteners among the beverages affected by the change.
The restrictions apply only to purchases made with SNAP benefits. Shoppers may still buy restricted items separately using cash, a debit card or another form of payment.
Baby formula and nutritional supplement drinks will remain eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits, according to DHS.
The department has also launched a barcode-scanning tool intended to help shoppers determine whether a product can be purchased with SNAP benefits before they reach the checkout line. Information about the tool and a list of restricted products are available through the state’s SNAP nutrition waiver webpage.
The new rules also apply to Summer EBT benefits beginning July 1. Online SNAP purchases will be subject to the same restrictions.
Arkansas received federal approval for the waiver in June 2025. The U.S. Department of Agriculture described it as a two-year demonstration project.
The change comes as federal SNAP food-restriction waivers have faced legal scrutiny. A federal judge recently vacated similar waivers in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee and West Virginia. Arkansas was not among the states named in that ruling, and Arkansas DHS continues to list July 1 as the implementation date for the state’s program.
