Last updated: December 23, 2025

Quick summary

• Starting January 1, 2026, Iowa is changing what you can buy with SNAP EBT.

• SNAP benefits can no longer be used to buy foods that Iowa treats as taxable, such as candy and soda.

• Your SNAP benefit amount is not changing. Most regular groceries are not affected.

What is changing in Iowa

When the new rules start

The new rules begin on January 1, 2026. They are currently approved as a two-year pilot by USDA and the State of Iowa.

What you cannot buy with SNAP anymore

You will not be able to use SNAP EBT to buy:

• Taxable food items under Iowa’s tax rules — for example, candy and soda.

• Other foods that Iowa law treats as taxable rather than as basic groceries.

Iowa uses existing state tax laws to decide which foods are taxable or not. For specific questions about products, check the Iowa SNAP website or ask an associate at the store where you’re shopping (online or in-store).

What stays the same

• These changes only affect what you can buy with SNAP benefits in Iowa.

  • Note: You can still include these items in your basket online and in-store when you pay with EBT, but you'll need to pay for them with a different payment method, such as a debit or credit card.

• Your monthly SNAP amount is not changing because of this waiver.

• Foods that Iowa treats as non-taxable groceries (such as most staple foods) remain SNAP-eligible.

For full details, contact your local SNAP office or visit the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services website.

Keeping up to date

If you live in Iowa and use the Forage app, we plan to:

• Update this page if Iowa or USDA change the rules, and

• Share important reminders in the app or via push notifications so you know what to expect at checkout.