The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has approved a request from the Tennessee Department of Human Services to launch a “demonstration project” that changes what can be bought with SNAP benefits.
Starting July 31, 2026, Tennessee will implement a statewide ban on foods and beverages based on their ingredient lists. This pilot program will run for two years.
What is Changing?
Unlike other states that ban specific categories (like “candy”), Tennessee is targeting all “processed foods.” They are defining processed food based on a strict Ingredient Rule. Whether an item is banned depends entirely on what is listed first on the package.
If sugar, cane sugar, corn syrup, or high fructose corn syrup is listed as the #1 ingredient, the item is BANNED.
| Category | ❌ No Longer Eligible (Banned) | ✅ Still Eligible (Allowed) |
|---|---|---|
| Sodas & Drinks | ❌ Sodas: Any beverage where Carbonated Water and Sugar/Corn Syrup are the first two ingredients. (Examples: Regular Coke, Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper). | ✅ Diet / Zero Sugar: The waiver explicitly allows drinks that list aspartame or non-caloric sweeteners in the first two ingredients. (Examples: Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Diet Dr. Pepper). |
| Sweets & Snacks | Sugar-First Items: Any processed food where sugar/corn syrup is the first listed ingredient. (Examples: Hard candies, marshmallows, some gummies, cotton candy). | ✅ Flour-First Items: If Flour is the first ingredient, the item is Allowed, even if it is sweet. (Examples: Cookies, cakes, and brownies are usually flour-based). ✅ Chocolate: Chocolate is often the first ingredient in candy bars, which might save them unless “sugar” is listed first. Check the label! |
| Baking Supplies | ✅ Sugar & Single Ingredients: Baking ingredients like “granulated sugar, raw sugar, and other single-ingredient sugars” used for cooking are still allowed. |
Who is Affected?
Everyone who shops with SNAP in Tennessee will be affected by this. The new rules apply to 100% of the SNAP population and there is no option to opt-out.
Critical Things You Need to Know
While this pilot program introduces new rules, the approval document establishes specific protections for SNAP recipients.
Out-of-state transactions will be tracked. Tennessee shares borders with eight other states (KY, MO, AR, MS, AL, GA, NC, VA). You can still use your EBT card in those states. The state will track transactions in these border areas.
You can still shop out-of-state. The letter explicitly states that out-of-state transactions will not be used as an indicator of fraud. You retain the right to shop in Kentucky, Mississippi, or any neighboring state without risking your eligibility.
You can decline to participate in research. To see if the ban works, the state will conduct surveys and dietary studies. You are under no obligation to participate. The terms specify that all data collection is voluntary. You can opt out of these surveys without any penalty to your benefits.
How to Prepare
Tennessee’s rules are unique because they focus on ingredients, not just product names. Here is how to get ready:
Learn the “flip and check.” Start practicing this habit now: Flip the package and look at the Ingredient List. Look at the very first word. If it says Sugar, Corn Syrup, or High Fructose Corn Syrup, then it will be banned in 2026. If it says something else like Flour, Oats, or Milk, it is likely safe.
Switch to diet or zero-calorie sodas. Tennessee has a massive loophole for Diet Sodas. The new rules say, “Beverages that list aspartame or other low-or-non-caloric sweeteners as the first two ingredients remain eligible for purchase.”
Start baking your own treats. You can still buy flour, sugar, and cocoa powder to make your own treats. A homemade cookie is legal; a store-bought candy where sugar is the #1 ingredient is not.
Relief Recap
While Tennessee’s ingredient-based ban sounds complicated, it actually leaves many options open. Diet sodas, flour-based cookies, and all home-baking ingredients (including plain sugar) remain completely safe to buy. Additionally, you have until July 2026 to prepare, and your right to shop across state lines remains protected by federal rules.
This article was drafted with AI assistance and fully fact-checked by Nicole Thelin. Learn more about our Responsible AI Use Policy.