Food stamps can now get you chocolate chips — but not a chocolate bar.
As of Feb. 15, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) users in Oklahoma can’t buy candy and soft drinks with their benefits. The Department of Human Services says the move will raise nutrition in low-income households.
Thousands of grocery items are now ineligible.
But there’s some confusion about what’s considered a candy or a soft drink. Any beverage containing more than 50% juice is still up for grabs, but energy drinks are a no-go.
Baked cookies and brownies are OK, but chewing gum isn’t.
- Here’s a complete list of all the things SNAP can’t buy.
These changes were originally scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, but retailers were given more time to prepare. Idaho and Louisiana are also implementing similar restrictions this month. Several other states, including Texas, Arkansas and Colorado, have already done so, triggering confusion among sellers and buyers.
Oklahoma Human Services is in charge of monitoring and enforcing compliance. We reached out to the state agency for a comment on the changes but did not hear back.
Retailers found in violation of SNAP rules could face disqualification from the program, fines or criminal charges.
Editor’s note: OKDHS unpublished a link listing some items still permitted with SNAP after reporting it caused more confusion among retailers. We have removed that line from our story.
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