Restrictions in effect as of April 20
(Allison Dinner, Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Florida has paved the way for new SNAP restrictions starting April 20.
The crackdown comes due to a new pilot program, which allows states to block the purchases of certain goods under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
In the Sunshine State, SNAP recipients are no longer be able to use their benefits to purchase the following items:
Soda — A beverage made with carbonated water that is flavored with added sugar or artificial sweeteners like corn sweetener, corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, glucose, high-fructose corn syrup, lactose, malt syrup, maltose, molasses, raw sugar and sucrose
Does not include carbonated water that is plain or naturally flavored
Does not include any beverage that is over 50% vegetable or fruit juice by volume
Does not include a beverage with less than five grams of added sugar
Energy drinks — A beverage containing at least 65 milligrams of caffeine per eight fluid ounces that are advertised as being specifically designed to provide metabolic stimulation or an increase to the consumer’s mental physical energy
Candy — A product involving the preparation of sugar or artificial sweeteners in combination with chocolate, fruits, nuts, caramels, gummies, and hard candies or other ingredients/flavorings in the form of bars, drops or pieces
Prepared desserts — A processed, shelf-stable, ready-to-eat, pre-packaged sweet food intended for immediate consumption without any further preparation
The newly prohibited foods join a list of items that are already restricted under the SNAP welfare program, including alcoholic beverages, tobacco and hot foods.
But while the new rules were originally set to take effect on Jan. 1, an updated waiver modification shows that they will now kick off on April 20, 2026.
From there, the waiver will remain in effect for two years — through April 19, 2028. During this time, state officials will be responsible for reporting on the results of these changes.
Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.
About the AuthorAnthony Talcott headshotAnthony Talcott
Anthony, a graduate of the University of Florida, joined ClickOrlando.com in April 2022.
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