/ Benefit Programs / Food Assistance / Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) / SNAP Healthy / Frequently Asked Questions
/ Benefit Programs / Food Assistance / Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) / SNAP Healthy / Frequently Asked Questions
Starting November 1, 2026, SNAP customers in Virginia will no longer be able to use their SNAP benefits to purchase carbonated, sweetened beverages. The following frequently asked questions explain which beverages are affected, what customers can expect at checkout and more.
As of November 1, 2026, SNAP customers in Virginia can no longer use their SNAP benefits to buy carbonated, sweetened beverages, including:
This update applies to all SNAP purchases made in Virginia.
Through a U.S. Department of Agriculture waiver, Virginia is testing out whether removing certain carbonated, sweetened beverages from SNAP eligibility supports healthier outcomes for families.
The goal is simple: Help SNAP dollars go further on foods and drinks that support good health.
No. Your SNAP eligibility, monthly benefit amount, and benefit schedule are not changing.
Only certain beverages are affected.
Most beverages remain SNAP eligible, including the following non-carbonated (fizz-free) drinks:
Beginning November 1, 2026, SNAP benefits cannot be used to buy:
Yes. You may still buy any beverage you choose with non-SNAP funds, including during the same transaction.
Yes, those drinks are classified as sodas, so they cannot be purchased using SNAP benefits beginning November 1. However, milk or yogurt-based probiotic drinks will remain SNAP-eligible.
No. Only carbonated beverages with added sweeteners are affected. Everything else stays the same.
No. There is no change to which foods you can buy using SNAP benefits.
No. This update applies only to SNAP purchases made in Virginia. If you shop in another state, that state’s rules will apply. Visit the USDA’s webpage to find state-specific food restriction information.
Yes. Your card will continue to work in all states, just as it does today. However, other states may have different rules for what you can purchase using SNAP benefits.
Yes. The same change applies to online purchases from stores that accept Virginia SNAP benefits.
No. This change does not impact purchases at VRMP-participating restaurants.
Restricted carbonated drink purchases will simply not go through on SNAP — just like alcohol, paper goods, or other noneligible items.
You can still complete your purchase by paying for those items with another payment method.
Retailers will update their systems so that ineligible items cannot be purchased with SNAP. Shelf labels or signage may also help identify eligible items. Soda, carbonated energy drinks, and carbonated beverages with 5 or more grams of added sugar per serving will no longer be SNAP-eligible.
If a restricted item goes through by mistake, the retailer is responsible for fixing the issue. Customers will not get in trouble.
No. This change to SNAP-eligible beverages applies for any purchase at a Virginia retailer, regardless of which state issued the customer’s EBT card.
SNAP customers who drink carbonated, sweetened beverages for medical reasons are encouraged to talk to their healthcare providers about SNAP eligible alternatives that may work for them.
Yes. SNAP can still be used at all authorized retailers.
Carbonated, sweetened beverages were selected because:
At the same time, many other beverage options remain fully eligible, giving families plenty of choices.
This update is part of Virginia’s broader work to help families access healthy foods, including:
Yes. All SNAP authorized retailers in Virginia must make this update beginning November 1, 2026.
VDSS provided retailers with:
Retailers are responsible for updating their point-of-sale (POS) systems and training staff.
VDSS will provide a list of commonly affected beverages and their Universal Product Codes (UPC) to help retailers update their systems. Because beverage products change constantly, no list can include every item.
The same rules apply.
Retailers — not third-party platforms — are responsible for making sure restricted beverages are not purchased with SNAP benefits online.
VDSS will work with retailers to support compliance with these new rules. However, unresolved noncompliance may result in referral to USDA and could affect a retailer’s authorization to accept SNAP.
The Virginia Department of Social Services will provide guidance and resources such as print-ready flyers and signs. Costs for updating systems and training staff are the retailer’s responsibility.
VDSS wants to learn how well SNAP customers understand the upcoming changes to SNAP-eligible beverages. The survey will also ask how customers are adjusting to these changes.
Taking the survey is voluntary, but your answers will help VDSS improve communication and provide better support to SNAP customers and stores.
All responses will be combined, and personal information will remain private. Your benefits and eligibility will not be affected by whether you take the survey.
The survey will be sent through Qualtrics, a trusted survey company. The survey will be titled “SNAP Healthy Household Survey,” and the sender will appear as the Virginia Department of Social Services.
VDSS will randomly select SNAP customers to participate in each survey. Over the next few years, you may receive no surveys, one survey or several surveys.
The first survey will go out in October 2026. More surveys are planned about 6 to 12 months after the beverage rule change, likely around May or November 2027.
Survey participants are chosen randomly, so you may receive no surveys, one survey or several surveys in the next few years.
There is no compensation or incentive for taking the survey, but your answers help VDSS improve communication and support for both customers and stores.
You can email SNAPHealthy@dss.virginia.gov for help or questions about the survey.
We’re here to support you.
Email: SNAPHealthy@dss.virginia.gov
VDSS will continue sharing updates through stores, LDSS offices, community partners, our website, and social media.
Find my local department