Candy, energy drinks, soft drinks with added sugar, and other sweetened beverages will no longer be eligible for purchase with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. These changes will be in effect Aug. 31st.
All SNAP households in South Carolina will have to participate. A figure which continues to decrease. In a year, the number of SNAP households has decreased by roughly 8.7%. In June 2025, there were 275,266 households in South Carolina on SNAP, in June of 2026, that figure went down to 251,353.
The move in accordance with the South Carolina Healthy Food Choice Project, a program dedicated to reducing the amount of sugar consumed by participants. Governor Henry McMaster issued an executive order, directing the South Carolina Department of Social Services to submit a waiver for to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service to authorize the project. The waiver was later approved by both the USDA and its federal Food and Nutrition Service.
McMaster's executive order, says removing the sugary food items is in line with President Donald Trump's Executive Order entitled, "Establishing the President's Make America Healthy Again Commission," that states the need to "aggressively," combat critical health challenges throughout the country. The executive order, says obesity concerns and diseases affecting the heart are often correlated with the "overconsumption of sugary or sweetened beverages."
There are some exemptions outlined, including:
- Protein bars, granola bars, or baking ingredients—sprinkles, chocolate melting wafers, toffee bits, chocolate chips—or items primarily sold as bakery of bread products, such as baked goods, cakes, crackers, cookies, muffins, brownies, pastries, bread, or similar products.
- Coffee, tea, or any substantially coffee- or tea-based beverage.
- Beverages that contain milk, milk products, rice, or other milk substitutes
- Any beverage consisting of 50% or more natural fruit or vegetable juice with no added caloric sweetener
- Any product referred to as "infant" or "baby" formula
- Sports or rehydration beverages
- Carbonated water beverages
- Any beverage for medical use as a source of necessary nutrition due to a medical condition or for use as an oral rehydration electrolyte solution to treat dehydration due to illness.
South Carolina SNAP recipients may be able to buy items such as candy, energy drinks, soft drinks, and other sweetened beverages using their EBT card in another state. All SNAP recipients, regardless of home state, will be subject to these changes when making a purchase using their EBT card in the state of South Carolina.
