DES MOINES, Iowa -- On Friday, the Iowa Health and Human Services Department announced that changes to what recipients utilizing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program would be able to purchase are coming soon.

Starting January 1, 2026, SNAP recipients won't be able to purchase foods considered taxable under Iowa code with their benefits. Taxable foods include things like soda and other beverages containing less than 50% of fruit or vegetable juice, candy or candy-coated items, and some in-store prepared foods.

"As obesity and chronic illness continue to rise, Iowa is taking bold steps upstream -- focusing on prevention and early intervention," Iowa HHS Director Kelly Garcia said in a statement. "By limiting SNAP-eligible purchases to healthier foods, this is a practical step towa

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