Canned coffee can be bought with food stamps only if it contains milk.

Several states have begun banning purchases of soda and candy with SNAP benefits, but state rules treat beverages that contain milk differently, so sugary canned coffee labeled as containing milk can remain eligible in some programs.

Several states have started restricting purchases of certain sugary drinks and candy under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah, and West Virginia were among the first to implement such limits. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has promoted the policy changes. Federal officials have offered preferential access to a $50 billion rural health fund to encourage more states to adopt similar rules. What is known: - As of January 1, some states have barred the purchase of soft drinks and candy with SNAP benefits, while other items remain eligible. - State definitions often exclude beverages that "contain milk or milk products," which means some sugary canned coffees that include milk remain eligible under the bans. - Eligibility has depended in part on state tax classifications, producing odd results such as cake slices being allowed while some prepackaged fruit cups are not. - Retailers and store clerks are largely responsible for deciding whether a product is allowable, and reporters found inconsistent implementation and confusing signage in several stores. - The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the changes as temporary pilot programs, announced a 90-day grace period for retailers before testing compliance, and has provided technical assistance; detailed evaluation plans from some states have been limited. Summary: The new state rules narrow what SNAP benefits can buy and have produced inconsistent and sometimes puzzling results at the store level. USDA approved the policies as temporary pilots but evaluation plans vary and are thin in some cases. Undetermined at this time.