Starting February 15, Idahoans using SNAP benefits will no longer be able to purchase candy and soda with their food assistance cards, following a statewide ban signed into law by Governor Brad Little last year. But the new rules are creating confusion among shoppers who are struggling to understand which items will be restricted.
"It's gonna be a mess," said Amanda Chester, a former SNAP recipient.
The restrictions aren't as straightforward as they might seem. While gummy bears will be denied at checkout, Kit Kat bars will still be approved for purchase with SNAP benefits.
"Like we don't even know what's gonna get denied and what's not once we go to the store," Chester said.
WATCH: A Guide to identifying SNAP-eligible items
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare has created candy and soda guidance sheets to help shoppers navigate the new rules, which reveal that not all candy is treated equally under the law.
A Kit Kat bar, which contains sugar and comes in bar form, remains SNAP-eligible because it contains flour. Gummy bears, however, contain sugar and come in small pieces but have no flour and require no refrigeration, making them ineligible for SNAP benefits.
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The drink restrictions also have nuances. Bottled Gatorade no longer qualifies for SNAP benefits, but the powdered version does.
"There are ways to go around it. You can make your own candy, your own cupcakes, you can do all of that on your own. It's just very time consuming," said Emina Sadiki, a SNAP recipient.
Sadiki said she understands the push for healthier choices but doesn't understand why small indulgences for her children are now completely restricted.
Her 12-year-old son has expressed frustration with the limitations. "He says, ‘that just sucks. I can't wait to get a job that way we don't need food stamps anymore.’ He's 12 years old. He shouldn't be thinking about that," Sadiki said.
The Department of Health and Welfare said the definitions for candy come directly from the state legislature, House Bill 109.
Idaho grocery stores are already posting signs about the new restrictions.
When a SNAP card is used for a restricted item, the purchase will be denied, but customers can still pay with cash, debit, or credit cards.
Some families worry the restrictions will create chaos at checkout lines.
“I can't imagine how bad it's gonna be and how people are gonna be so confused and so unsure,” Chester said. “I feel bad for the people that work at the grocery stores, like it's gonna be a mess.”
