To ring in the new year, five states are prohibiting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from being used to purchase soda, soft drinks and candy. Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah, and West Virginia will be the first among 18 states to roll out food restriction waivers for sugary drinks and candy on January 1. The remaining 13 states will be implementing their waivers later in the year. Each waiver will last for an initial two-year period. States are required to study and report on how the restrictions affect participants, retailers, and overall program outcomes, according to Patrick Penn, acting administrator for the Food and Nutrition Service.