Florida to ban soda, sweets from SNAP purchases starting April 20

In one month, SNAP recipients will no longer be able to purchase sugary foods, snacks and drinks with SNAP benefits. 

Starting April 20, Floridians won't be able to buy soda, energy drinks, candy, and ultra-processed, shelf-stable prepared desserts with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. 

Miami Beach Florida,Publix grocery store supermarket display sale shelf shelves inside interior,Coca Cola products soft drinks cola soda

What we know:

States across the U.S. – including Florida – are experiencing junk food restrictions.

Other states facing the same restrictions as Florida include South Carolina, Tennessee and Missouri, while others have solely banned the purchases of soft drinks – Colorado – or sugar-sweetened beverages, such as Ohio. 

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This change is to help ensure that SNAP benefits are used for more "nutritious foods," the Florida Department of Children and Families said on its website. 

In doing so, the Florida Department of Children and Families said it's part of the state's plan to "better align" SNAP with it's intended purpose: providing low-income households access to a more nutritious diet to help alleviate hunger and combat malnutrition, the Florida Department of Children and Families said on its website. 

Foods excluded from SNAP

Foods excluded from SNAP in the state of Florida are further defined as: 

"Candy" means a product that involves the preparation of sugar or artificial sweeteners in combination with chocolate, fruits, nuts, caramels, gummies, and hard candies or other ingredients or flavorings in the form of bars, drops, or pieces.

"Prepared Desserts" means a processed, shelf-stable, ready-to-eat, pre-packaged sweet food intended for immediate consumption without any further preparation. This would include foods mostly made out of "chemically" modified substances extracted from foods, along with additives to enhance taste, texture, appearance, and durability, with minimal whole foods.

Excluded Beverages:

"Soda" means a beverage that is made with carbonated water and that is flavored or sweetened with added sugar or artificial sweeteners such as corn sweetener, corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, glucose, high-fructose corn syrup, lactose, malt syrup, maltose, molasses, raw sugar, and sucrose.

"Soda" does not include carbonated water which is plain or naturally flavored or any beverage that is greater than 50 percent vegetable or fruit juice by volume, or that contains less than five grams of added sugar.

"Energy drinks" means a beverage containing at least sixty-five (65) milligrams of caffeine per eight (8) fluid ounces that are advertised as being specifically designed to provide metabolic stimulation or an increase to the consumer's mental physical energy. 

The term "energy drinks" does not include coffee or tea or any coffee or tea-based beverages.

What are SNAP Benefits? 

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is administered through the Florida Department of Children and Families – which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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SNAP is a federal program that provides food assistance to 40 million low-income people. The money is on prepaid cards that they can use for groceries. Floridians can apply for SNAP benefits on the Florida Department of Children and Families website. 

Who is eligible for SNAP? 

SNAP is open to families who are U.S. citizens, legal residents and people with a qualified immigration status. People 60+ and disabled may have a higher income and still qualify.