New SNAP restrictions on candy and sugary drinks take effect in South Carolina
November 2, 2026
South Carolina residents who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits can no longer use them to buy candy, energy drinks, soft drinks or other sweetened beverages. The new rules took effect Sunday, Nov. 1.
The change is part of Healthy Food SC, a two-year pilot project run by the South Carolina Department of Social Services. State officials say the goal is to steer SNAP households toward more nutritious foods and away from items with little nutritional value.
The restrictions apply at every SNAP-approved retailer in the state, regardless of size. Households receiving benefits cannot opt out. State Department of Social Services figures show about 230,000 South Carolina households receive SNAP benefits.
Under the program, sweetened beverages are generally defined as ready-to-drink beverages containing 5 grams or more of added sugar or other sweeteners. That category includes items such as bottled lemonade, sweetened tea and sweetened coffee drinks.
Several items remain eligible. Diet and zero-sugar soft drinks can still be purchased with SNAP benefits, as can beverages made with milk, milk products, soy, rice or other milk substitutes, and carbonated water. Granola bars, protein bars, baked goods, natural fruit and vegetable juices and sports drinks are also not covered by the restrictions.
The new rules do not change benefit amounts or who qualifies for SNAP. Restricted items will be declined when shoppers pay with an EBT card, and shoppers may pay for those items another way or leave them at the register.
Gov. Henry McMaster first announced plans in August 2025 to seek federal permission for the restrictions and later issued an executive order directing the Department of Social Services to submit a waiver request. Because SNAP is a federal program, the state needed approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which granted the waiver in December 2025. McMaster has described the plan as a modest, common-sense step toward improving health in the state.
The program was originally scheduled to begin Aug. 31. The USDA asked South Carolina to postpone the start date while federal attorneys reviewed court rulings that had overturned similar SNAP restrictions in several other states, including Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee and West Virginia.
The restrictions have drawn criticism from some advocacy groups and the beverage industry. Opponents argue that limiting purchases makes assumptions about whether low-income families can make their own choices and that the rules may not meaningfully reduce obesity. Supporters point to national data showing children in SNAP households consume significantly more sugary drinks than their peers.
Retailers are responsible for updating their checkout systems to comply. Complaints about prohibited purchases will be referred to the federal Food and Nutrition Service, which can impose penalties on stores that do not follow the rules.
South Carolina is among a growing number of states that have received federal approval to limit what SNAP benefits can buy.
SNAP recipients with questions about which items are eligible can find more information on the South Carolina Department of Social Services Healthy Food SC website or by contacting their county DSS office.
