South Carolina residents who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will no longer be able to use those benefits to purchase candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and other sweetened beverages beginning Nov. 1 under a new state pilot program aimed at encouraging healthier food choices.
The South Carolina Department of Social Services announced last month the launch of Healthy Food SC, a two-year initiative designed to help SNAP recipients make healthier purchasing decisions.
According to the agency, the program was approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service after a waiver requested by Gov. Henry McMaster.
McMaster announced plans to pursue the waiver in August 2025 and later directed the Department of Social Services to submit it through an executive order.
The program seeks to promote healthier food choices by encouraging the purchase of more nutritious foods while limiting purchases of products considered to have little nutritional value.
Beginning Nov. 1, South Carolina will update its definition of SNAP-eligible foods. While candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and sweetened beverages will be excluded from eligible purchases, diet and zero-sugar soft drinks will remain allowable under the program.
In June 2026, the federally funded program provided benefits to 235,235 households representing 481,856 individuals, with total distributions of $89.3 million, according to the Department of Social Services.
Healthy Food SC is scheduled to run for two years.
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