ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 Florida has paved the way for new SNAP restrictions starting next month.<\/p>\n
The upcoming crackdown comes thanks to a new pilot program<\/a>, which allows states to block the purchases of certain goods under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).<\/p>\n And in Florida, state officials are gunning to eliminate some unhealthy foods from the lineup of goods that SNAP recipients can use their funds on.<\/p>\n [BELOW: Candy bars and more could soon be banned for SNAP recipients]<\/p>\n In the Sunshine State, SNAP recipients will no longer be able to use their benefits to purchase the following items next year:<\/p>\n Soda \u2014 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<\/p>\n Does not include carbonated water that is plain or naturally flavored<\/p>\n Does not include any beverage that is over 50% vegetable or fruit juice by volume<\/p>\n Does not include a beverage with less than five grams of added sugar <\/p>\n Energy drinks \u2014 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\u2019s mental physical energy<\/p>\n Candy \u2014 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<\/p>\n Prepared desserts \u2014 A processed, shelf-stable, ready-to-eat, pre-packaged sweet food intended for immediate consumption without any further preparation<\/p>\n The newly prohibited foods join a list of items that are already restricted<\/a> under the SNAP welfare program, including alcoholic beverages, tobacco and hot foods.<\/p>\n