COLUMBIA, S.C. — SNAP recipients in South Carolina can no longer use their benefits to buy most candy, soda, energy drinks or other sweetened beverages, Gray Media’s WRDW reported in a story carried by Arizona’s Family.
The change, called the Health Food SC Project, was approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service.
Diet and zero-sugar soft drinks can still be bought with SNAP benefits.
Gov. Henry McMaster announced plans to seek the federal waiver in August 2025 and later ordered the state Department of Social Services to submit the request.
All SNAP-approved retailers in the state will take part, and households cannot opt out of the restrictions.
Sources: Arizona’s Family. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: Dorothea Lange / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
