Important update about TANF and Social Services Block Grant

 
1

SNAP Healthy Choice Waiver

Three photos of people picking out food and beverages at the supermarket. Colorado Healthy Choice logo.

 

SNAP Client Information      SNAP Retailer Information 

 

Counties / Community Partner Information


General Information

The Colorado Healthy Choice Waiver aims to promote healthier choices and health outcomes among SNAP participants. To test this approach, SNAP benefits can no longer be used to buy “soft drinks,” defined as nonalcoholic beverages with natural or artificial sweeteners or beverages with less than 50% fruit or vegetable juice by volume.

When will it go into effect?

The Colorado Healthy Choice waiver will be implemented statewide on April 30, 2026.

How will the Colorado Healthy Waiver impact SNAP recipients? 

This will change the beverages that are eligible to be purchased with SNAP benefits. 

Have questions or comments?

SNAP recipients and/or community members can get in touch by completing this form (Google Form).

What foods/drinks could no longer be purchased with SNAP benefits?

Any beverage that contains natural or artificial sweeteners. That would include:

  • Soda
  • Diet Soda
  • Pop
  • Cola
  • Soft drinks
  • Sports drinks
  • Energy drinks with added sugar or artificial sweeteners
  • Sweetened iced teas
  • Sweetened coffees
  • Beverages consisting of less than 50 percent natural fruit or vegetable juice by volume

This waiver does not limit the purchase of any foods under SNAP benefits.

What beverages will you still be able to purchase using SNAP?
  • Any unsweetened beverage such as bottled water and seltzer.
  • Any beverage that contains milk or milk products, i.e; soy milk, coconut milk, rice milk, almond milk, chocolate milk, strawberry milk, etc.
  • Products commonly referred to as “infant formula” or “baby formula.”
  • Beverages consisting of at least 50 percent natural fruit or vegetable juice by volume.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What is the Colorado Healthy Choice waiver?

The Colorado Healthy Choice Waiver aims to promote healthier choices and health outcomes among SNAP participants. As part of this waiver, SNAP benefits can no longer be used to buy “soft drinks,” defined as nonalcoholic beverages with natural or artificial sweeteners or beverages with less than 50% fruit or vegetable juice by volume.

What purchases are being excluded?

Soft drinks, defined as non-alcoholic beverages that contain natural or artificial sweeteners and beverages that have less than 50% fruit or vegetable juice by volume.

What beverages can you still purchase using SNAP benefits?

Infant formula, milk, milk products, milk substitutes, beverages with more than fifty percent fruit or vegetable juice by volume.

What are common names for added sugars found in beverages?
  • Sugar
  • Cane sugar
  • Beet sugar
  • High-fructose corn syrup
  • Corn syrup
  • Glucose
  • Fructose
  • Sucrose
  • Dextrose
  • Maltose
  • Agave syrup / agave nectar
  • Honey
  • Maple syrup
  • Molasses
  • Fruit juice concentrate (e.g., apple, grape, pear)
  • Rice syrup
  • Brown rice syrup
  • Tapioca syrup
  • Invert sugar
What are the common names of Artificial / Non-Nutritive Sweeteners?
  • Aspartame
  • Sucralose
  • Saccharin
  • Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K)
  • Neotame
  • Advantame
  • Stevia (steviol glycosides)
  • Monk fruit (luo han guo extract)
When will purchase restrictions begin?

April 30, 2026.

Do the restrictions affect every SNAP user regardless of which state issues them?

This waiver will apply to any SNAP participant who purchases at a retailer within the state of Colorado, regardless of where the SNAP participant lives.

Do the restrictions follow the cardholder into other states?

No. The Colorado Healthy Choice Waiver applies to purchases made in Colorado. SNAP transactions are subject to the rules of the state where the purchase is made.

Will there be any changes to SNAP eligibility requirements?

No.

Is restricting purchases a stepping stone to further reductions in SNAP?  What impact could these restrictions have on SNAP?
  • The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides food benefits to families with lower incomes to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford the nutritious food essential to health and well-being.
  • As of June 2025, approximately 334,500 Colorado households and 615,000 people, including children and older adults, receive monthly benefits.
  • Colorado wants to ensure that Coloradans can easily use their benefits to buy nutritious foods that keep them healthy. This includes petitioning for the inclusion of healthy foods and food products that are currently excluded from Colorado’s SNAP program.
  • CDHS is committed to addressing food insecurity through programs like SNAP, which not only improve access to nutritious food but also contribute to better physical and mental health across Colorado.
What impact could these restrictions have on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)?

This waiver does not modify the food products available through WIC. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment administers WIC. Please send WIC-related questions to them. Please visit this site to get more information: https://www.coloradowic.gov/homepage

Client Information

 

Questions about SNAP drink changes?

View our FAQ For SNAP Clients (Google Doc) one-pager.

Have additional questions or comments?

Use this form (Google Form) to submit your thoughts or ask a question, and our team will review your message.

Retailer Information

 

What do retailers need to know?

This waiver has been approved by both Colorado’s Governor and the USDA. This waiver is a first step in improving healthy food choices within the Colorado SNAP program by removing the purchase of specific beverages from SNAP benefits, beginning on April 30, 2026. For Colorado retailers, this means SNAP benefits can no longer be used to purchase specific ineligible items at your location, including those with added sugar, artificial sweeteners, or with less than 50% fruit or vegetable juice by volume. Colorado Department of Human Services looks forward to working with our retailers to implement these changes.

  • Please see the FAQ above for additional information
  • Please refer to this Beverage Matrix (PDF) to see which products will not be eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits on April 30, 2026
  • Please fill out this form (Google Form) if you have immediate questions or feedback regarding this waiver.

Printable Educational Resources for Retailers
Retailer Signage

Download our printable sign (English or Spanish) to inform customers about the new changes.

Pocket Quick Info Card

Printable business cards (English or Spanish) for quick reference.

Colorado Healthy Choice Information Sessions:

CDHS will host several informational sessions to provide information for Colorado Retailers who sell SNAP products. The goal of these sessions is to provide retailers with additional information, address questions related to this waiver, and offer support in navigating the changes to SNAP benefits. Retailers are not required to attend these sessions.

Information Sessions for Retailers will be held on the following dates:
English Information Sessions:
Spanish Information Sessions:

 

How Compliance Will Be Monitored

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is responsible for overseeing SNAP retailers across the country. Retailers that accept SNAP in Colorado are required to follow the rules of the SNAP Food Restriction Waiver. Please see compliance and monitoring guidance from FNS below:

  1.  90-Day Grace Period
    1. After the waiver begins, existing SNAP retailers have a one-time 90-day grace period
    2. During this time, retailers can identify and fix issues without penalty
    3. The grace period applies only to existing retailers and only for the first 90 days
    4. New retailers authorized after the grace period do not receive this window
  2. First Violation: Warning Letter
    1. After the grace period, FNS may investigate compliance
    2. If a retailer is found out of compliance for the first time, FNS will issue a Warning Letter
    3. This letter explains the issue and gives the retailer a chance to correct it
  3. Second Violation: Involuntary Withdrawal
    1. If a retailer is found out of compliance again after receiving a warning, FNS may issue an Involuntary Withdrawal
    2. This means the retailer loses authorization to accept SNAP
      Retailers may reapply for SNAP authorization after withdrawal. As part of reauthorization, owners must confirm they will follow waiver requirements.
  4. Administrative Review
    1. Retailers may request an Administrative Review after receiving an Involuntary Withdrawal notice.
    2. FNS has an established review process.
    3. Enforcement action is paused while the review is underway.

For additional information, please visit the FNS website.

Counties / Community Partner Information

This section provides support for counties and community partners to communicate updates related to the SNAP Healthy Choice Waiver to clients. The Partner Communication Toolkit offers ready-to-use materials, including key messages, FAQs, and social media posts, to help partners clearly explain the beverage changes, address questions, and ensure consistent statewide messaging.

Partner Communication Toolkit

Have questions or comments?
SNAP recipients and/or community members can get in touch by completing this form (Google Form).