Hawaiʻi to restrict soda purchases under SNAP in 2026; local groups oppose

The waiver approval has drawn criticism from Hawaiʻi-based organizations, including the Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice, the Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute and Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network Speaks.

In a joint statement, the organizations said the restriction would place additional burdens on families facing food insecurity without guaranteeing improved health outcomes.

“Sugary products play a clear role in many preventable health conditions, but a SNAP-specific ban is not an effective public health strategy,” the groups said.

The groups cited a scholarly report published with the American Public Health Association, which found no significant improvements in diet quality among SNAP participants subject to restrictions, based on existing research.

According to the groups, affordability—not choice—is the primary barrier to healthy eating, and this limitation “only restricts choice and attacks low-income people.”

The advocacy groups also raised concerns about impacts on retailers, like grocery stores and gas stations, which would need to reprogram point-of-sale systems, retrain staff and update online purchasing platforms to comply with the restriction.