\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFlorida is one of 22 states implementing restrictions on SNAP purchases of unhealthy food and drinks. Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25″Our department has encouraged states to think differently and creatively about how to solve the many health issues facing Americans,” said Brooke L. Rollins, secretary of the Department of Agriculture. The new rules prohibit the purchase of sodas, energy drinks, candy, and ultra-processed shelf-stable prepared desserts using SNAP benefits. Florida will test whether these restrictions can encourage healthier choices over the next two years.Across five counties, more than 96,000 households rely on SNAP benefits, with Palm Beach County leading at over 65,000 households and St. Lucie County following with nearly 18,000. Some public health experts have expressed concerns about the effectiveness of the restrictions. “In addition to making the restrictions and the SNAP benefits, it’s really important that there’s an education component to this as well as more information in regard to access to foods that are that are as expensive,” said Yolanda Hardy, a public health expert at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Hardy emphasized that addressing food access and education is essential to achieving the program’s goals. “If they talk about how to have access to healthier foods, then they may see a change in behavior. They may see that more people are going towards the healthier foods and less to the unhealthy foods,” Hardy said. While other states start at different dates Florida’s restrictions are effective as of April 20.Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Florida is one of 22 states implementing restrictions on SNAP purchases of unhealthy food and drinks. <\/p>\n