Healthy Food SC is South Carolina’s Healthy Food Choice (HFC) demonstration project dedicated to improving the health and well-being of families who rely of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

As defined in South Carolina’s Executive Order 2025-30, all South Carolina SNAP-authorized retailers will begin restricting newly defined prohibited items effective August 31, 2026.

Beginning August 31, 2026, South Carolina will restrict candy, energy drinks, soft drinks, and sweetened beverages from the definition of eligible foods that may be purchased with SNAP benefits

The description of these restricted food items is as follows:

Candy: a preparation of sugar, honey, or other natural or artificial sweeteners in combination with chocolate, fruits, nuts, or other ingredients in the form of bars, drops, or pieces.

Candy" shall not include the following:

• Protein bars, granola bars.
• Baking ingredients such as sprinkles, chocolate melting wafters, toffee bits, or chocolate chips.
• Items primarily identified and sold as bakery or bread products, such as baked goods, cakes, crackers, cookies, muffins, brownies, pastries, bread, or similar products.

Energy Drinks: beverages 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 or physical energy. "Energy drinks" shall not include coffee or tea or any substantially coffee- or tea-based beverage.

Soft Drinks: any nonalcoholic beverage made with carbonated water and flavored or sweetened, or both, with more than five (5) grams of sugar or other natural or artificial sweeteners.

Diet and zero sugar soft drinks will remain an allowable purchase with SNAP benefits.

Sweetened Beverages: any sweetened beverage, flavored or sweetened or both, with added sugar or other natural or artificial sweeteners, ready for consumption without further processing.

"Soft Drinks" and "Sweetened Beverages" shall not include:

• A beverage that contains milk, milk products, soy, rice, or other milk substitutes.
• Any beverage consisting of 50% or more natural fruit or vegetable juice with no added caloric sweetener.
• Any product commonly referred to as "infant" or "baby" formula.
• Sports or rehydration beverages.
• Carbonated water beverages.
• Any beverage for medical use meaning any beverage suitable for human consumption and manufactured for use as a source of necessary nutrition due to a medical condition or for use as an oral rehydration electrolyte solution for infants and children formulated to prevent or treat dehydration due to illness.

Items marketed as “candy” means a product that involves the preparation of sugar, honey, or other natural or artificial sweeteners in combination with chocolate, fruits, nuts, or other ingredients in the form of bars, drops, or pieces. While the information below is not a comprehensive list of criteria for identifying items classified as candy, it provides guidance to assist in making that determination.

“Candy” items typically are

• Individually wrapped, colorful, or sold in snack-sized bags.
• Located on the snack/candy aisle, by the checkout lane or in the seasonal/holiday section.
• The labels focus on flavor, fun, and eating directly
• Ingredients include added flavors, colors, and is meant to be eaten as-is
• Tend to be ready-to-eat bars, gummies, mints, hard candies

“Candy” labelling may include items such as:

• Verbiage that focuses on flavor and enjoyment such as: “Milk Chocolate Bar”, “Chewy Caramels”, “Sour Gummies.”
• Serving sizes that often display verbiage such as “1 bar”, “3 pieces”, or “1 package.”
• Marketing language such as “fun size”, “snack size”, “treat”, or “share pack”
• Pictures of the candy itself.
• Bright, colorful branding aimed at being eye catching and encouraging immediate consumption.

All items previously identified as prohibited, including food and non-food products, continue to be ineligible for purchase with SNAP benefits. For additional information on what items can/cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits, please visit the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition website What Can SNAP Buy?

Yes, all South Carolina SNAP households will participate in the Healthy Food SC project.

No, the state of South Carolina cannot modify eligibility parameters or benefit allotments for the SNAP program.

Healthy Food SC purchase restrictions apply to all authorized SNAP retailers within South Carolina. However, if a South Carolina SNAP recipient uses their EBT card in another state, they may be able to buy items such as candy, soft drinks, energy drinks, or other sweetened beverages, depending on that state’s SNAP rules. When using a South Carolina EBT card outside the state, please check the SNAP website for the state you are visiting to understand any purchase restrictions that may apply.

Yes, all SNAP recipients purchasing food items with their SNAP benefits, in the State of South Carolina, will be subject to the newly defined restricted food items.

South Carolina SNAP recipients will receive information from the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) about the Healthy Food SC project via DSS website, SCCES portal, text messaging, social media posts, and DSS press releases. Information about the Healthy Food SC project will also be displayed in every local DSS county office building.

SNAP recipients will continue to be able to purchase the same healthy, nutrient-rich foods they always have, including fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, dairy, and other essential staples. The Healthy Food SC project supports the SNAP program’s core mission of ensuring that households with low income have access to adequate nutrition and improved health.

Approved South Carolina SNAP retailers will update their Point of Sale (POS) systems to prevent the purchase of candy, energy drinks, soft drinks, and other sweetened beverages that are not eligible under SNAP. If a restricted item is in your cart, the system will prompt you to use another form of payment for that item.

The Healthy Food SC project does not change any WIC-approved foods, The South Carolina Department of Public Health administers WIC. For more information, visit the SC WIC website.