Beginning April 20, 2026, soda, energy drinks, candy, and ultra-processed shelf-stable prepared desserts will no longer be available for purchase with SNAP benefits in Florida.
The new rules will seemingly confuse consumers and make some wonder why certain foods like breakfast bars, pastries, and fresh bakery items are allowed, although very high in sugar, fat, and salt, while sodas, candies, trail mix, and packaged sweets are not.
Florida made this change to better align SNAP with its intended purpose: providing low-income households access to a more nutritious diet to help alleviate hunger and combat malnutrition. By excluding soda, energy drinks, candy, and ultra-processed shelf-stable prepared desserts, the state is taking a proactive step to ensure SNAP benefits are used for more nourishing foods.
Florida officials say they are committed to promoting the health and well-being of families who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Florida has received federal approval to implement Florida’s SNAP changes to promote healthy food.
"Soda" refers to beverages made with carbonated water that are sweetened with added sugars or artificial sweeteners.
Granola bars, breakfast toaster strudels, breakfast biscuits like BelVita, and breakfast toaster pastries like Pop-Tarts® can still be purchased with SNAP benefits, even when they contain sweeteners or chocolate.
"Ultra-processed prepared desserts" means a processed, shelf-stable, ready-to-eat, pre-packaged sweet food intended for immediate consumption without any further preparation.
Florida made this change to better align SNAP with its intended purpose: providing low-income households access to a more nutritious diet to help alleviate hunger and combat malnutrition. By excluding soda, energy drinks, candy, and ultra-processed shelf-stable prepared desserts, the state is taking a proactive step to ensure SNAP benefits are used for more nourishing foods.
Florida officials say they are committed to promoting the health and well-being of families who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Florida has received federal approval to implement Florida’s SNAP changes to promote healthy food.
They say starting on April 20, 2026, SNAP benefits will no longer be used to buy certain foods that offer little to no nutritional value. SNAP benefits can continue to be used to purchase the same healthy, nutrient-rich foods they always have, including fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, dairy, and other staples that support a balanced diet and overall well-being.
Not Allowed - Sweetened Carbonated Drinks
"Soda" refers to beverages made with carbonated water that are sweetened with added sugars or artificial sweeteners.
Allowed - Non Sweetened Drinks with exceptions
SNAP benefits can still be used to purchase sports drinks like Gatorade® and Powerade®, plain or naturally flavored sparkling waters such as LaCroix®, Waterloo®, Polar®, and Bubly®, or drinks that contain more than 50% juice or have less than 5 grams of added sugar per serving.
Coffee, tea, and sports drinks like Gatorade® or Powerade® are not considered energy drinks and can still be purchased with SNAP benefits.
Coffee, tea, and sports drinks like Gatorade® or Powerade® are not considered energy drinks and can still be purchased with SNAP benefits.
Not Allowed
"Candy" includes products made from sugar or artificial sweeteners combined with chocolate, fruit, nuts, caramel, gummies, and hard candies or other ingredients or flavorings in the form of bars, drops, or pieces. Trail mix containing candy, as defined above, is considered candy and is not an allowable purchase.
Allowed - High Carbohydrate Sweetened Packaged Pastry (Surprise for those with sweet tooth)
"Candy" includes products made from sugar or artificial sweeteners combined with chocolate, fruit, nuts, caramel, gummies, and hard candies or other ingredients or flavorings in the form of bars, drops, or pieces. Trail mix containing candy, as defined above, is considered candy and is not an allowable purchase.
Allowed - High Carbohydrate Sweetened Packaged Pastry (Surprise for those with sweet tooth)
Granola bars, breakfast toaster strudels, breakfast biscuits like BelVita, and breakfast toaster pastries like Pop-Tarts® can still be purchased with SNAP benefits, even when they contain sweeteners or chocolate.
Not Allowed - Caffeine Energy Drinks, Prepared Sweet Foods (We are guessing packaged cake, cookies and donuts)
"Energy drinks" are drinks that contain 65 milligrams or more of caffeine per 8 ounces and are marketed to boost energy or alertness. Examples include Monster™, Red Bull™, Celsius™, 5-Hour Energy®, C4 Energy®. This also includes store brand varieties of energy drinks.
"Energy drinks" are drinks that contain 65 milligrams or more of caffeine per 8 ounces and are marketed to boost energy or alertness. Examples include Monster™, Red Bull™, Celsius™, 5-Hour Energy®, C4 Energy®. This also includes store brand varieties of energy drinks.
"Ultra-processed prepared desserts" means a processed, shelf-stable, ready-to-eat, pre-packaged sweet food intended for immediate consumption without any further preparation.
Allowed - Fresh Baked Goods - Breads, Donuts?
Freshly prepared baked goods can still be purchased with SNAP benefits.
For more information visit https://healthysnap.myflfamilies.com/recipient/index.html
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