South Carolina SNAP restrictions on soda, candy, and sugary drinks take effect

South Carolina residents receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits can no longer use their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to purchase most candy, regular soft drinks, and sweetened beverages, following state restrictions that officially took effect on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026.

The policy shift is part of Healthy Food SC, a two-year pilot program administered by the South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS). Designed to incentivize healthier dietary choices and combat diet-related illnesses, the initiative seeks to steer SNAP dollars away from items with low nutritional value toward whole, nutrient-dense foods.

South Carolina secured a federal waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to implement the demonstration project, joining states like Virginia, Montana, and North Dakota in enacting similar retail limitations. The rules affect more than 230,000 households enrolled in SNAP across the state.

What Items Are Restricted?

Under the new SCDSS guidelines, the ban applies to food and beverage categories meeting specific sugar and preparation thresholds:

• Soft Drinks & Sweetened Beverages: Carbonated soft drinks containing more than 5 grams of added sugar or caloric sweeteners are now ineligible for SNAP purchase. Ready-to-drink sweetened non-carbonated drinks—such as pre-bottled sweet tea, sweetened bottled coffees, and fruit punches with added sweeteners—are also excluded.

• Energy Drinks: Commercial energy drinks containing 65 milligrams or more of caffeine per 8 fluid ounces that are marketed to boost mental or physical energy cannot be bought with EBT benefits.

• Confectionery Candy: Confectionery sweets made from sugar, chocolate, honey, or artificial sweeteners sold as bars, drops, or bites (such as chocolate candy bars, gummies, hard candies, and marshmallows) are barred.

What Remains Eligible?

The state emphasized that a wide variety of staples, beverages, and pantry items remain fully covered under SNAP benefits:

• Diet & Zero-Sugar Drinks: Diet and zero-sugar carbonated beverages, unsweetened sparkling water, and plain bottled water remain eligible.

• 100% Juices & Milk: Dairy milk, plant-based milk alternatives (almond, oat, soy), and beverages containing at least 50% natural fruit or vegetable juice with no added caloric sweeteners are allowed.

• Baked Goods & Cooking Staples: Baked bakery items—including breads, muffins, cookies, brownies, and cakes—remain eligible, as do baking supplies such as chocolate chips, cocoa powder, and sugar.

• Health & Meal Bars: Protein bars and traditional granola bars continue to qualify for SNAP purchases.

• Nutritional Staples: Standard grocery essentials, including fresh, frozen, or canned produce, meats, poultry, seafood, dairy, and grains, are unaffected.

What Happens at the Checkout Register?

Grocery stores, retail markets, and online delivery platforms across South Carolina updated their point-of-sale scanner databases ahead of the Nov. 1 rollout.

If an EBT shopper attempts to purchase a restricted item, checkout systems will automatically decline SNAP payment for that specific product, prompting an “item not allowed” notification. Shoppers are permitted to pay for excluded items using a separate payment method, including cash, debit, credit, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds.

Recipients with questions regarding specific product eligibility can check their county DSS office or review the state’s Healthy Food SC portal at dss.sc.gov.

Community Consumer Guide: S.C. SNAP Changes

• Effective Date: Sunday, November 1, 2026

• Program Name: Healthy Food SC (S.C. Department of Social Services pilot)

• Newly Restricted: Sugary sodas (over 5g sugar), energy drinks, sweetened pre-bottled tea/coffee, and candy bars/gummies.

• Still Permitted: Fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, pantry staples, diet/zero-sugar sodas, seltzers, 100% juices, milk/milk substitutes, bakery cookies/cakes, and baking chips.

• Payment at Checkout: EBT cards will automatically filter out restricted items at the register; customers may cover restricted items with cash or regular cards.