By David L. Snelling
(Source: South Florida Times)
MIAMI – Starting Jan. 1, 2026, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients will be restricted on which food items they can purchase.
After President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” slashed the program, formerly known as stamps, by $300 billion over the next 10 years, some state governments including Florida decided to pick up the slack.
SNAP is the nation’s largest anti-hunger program for families whose income is at or below the poverty threshold.
But Florida is placing restrictions on what recipients can buy in an effort to promote healthier food choices.
Beginning next year, SNAP recipients are prohibited from purchasing soda pops, energy drinks, candy, and prepared desserts.
According to some health experts, foods and drinks high in sugar and fat can cause diabetes, high blood pressure and heart issues.
Others said starches like potatoes and white bread affect blood glucose levels as much as sugar, causing sometimes dangerous spikes in blood sugar.
Nevertheless, Florida is cutting out certain foods and drinks for SNAP that recipients have been purchasing with their cards at supermarkets and convenience stores for the past 50 years.
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said the SNAP restrictions align with Trump’s plan to encourage America to eat healthy. “In Florida, we are ensuring SNAP supports nutritious options that help families thrive, not unhealthy products that lead to longterm health problems,” DeSantis said during a press conference. “Thank you to President Trump for approving our waiver request.”
The waivers were signed Monday, Aug. 4, by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins.
But the restrictions for SNAP could impact sales in supermarkets, as recipients spend about 20 percent of their grocery bills on candy, soda, energy drinks and prepared desserts.
According to a study, SNAP recipients spend significantly on soda and candy.
On average, SNAP recipients consume over seven sugary drinks per week, which translates to about nine sugary beverages per week.
In addition, SNAP recipients spend about 20 percent of their total grocery budget on junk food, with soft drinks being the top purchase.
“This indicates that SNAP recipients tend to allocate a substantial portion of their benefits towards unhealthy food items, raising concerns about their dietary choices,” the study says.
For retailers, the restrictions are expected to cause a decline in sales and might face financial challenges for supermarkets that rely on funds for a significant portion of their sales.
Retailers may face regulatory confusion and increased compliance costs, potentially forcing some to stop accepting SNAP altogether.
Carly Forbes, who owns a convenience store in Miami, said half of her sales are generated from SNAP recipients who mostly purchase soft drinks and candy.
She said the restrictions most likely will impact her business which caters to low-income families in the neighborhood.
“Students come from school every day to buy soda, candy and snack cakes,” she said. “They make half of my business.”
While SNAP is designed to support nutrition, critics argue that it contributes to poor dietary choices, particularly in the consumption of sugary drinks.
Data shows that SNAP households consume more sugary drinks than non-SNAP households.
In 2022, two-thirds of SNAP adults reported being at least occasional soda drinkers, compared to 61 percent of low-income non-recipients and 50 percent of higher-income non-recipients.
On average, SNAP recipients consumed over seven sugary drinks per week, while low-income non-recipients consumed 5.4, and higher-income non-recipients consumed 3.8.
