Florida SNAP rules restrict EBT food buys

Florida began blocking some food purchases on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program cards on April 20, cutting off soda, energy drinks, candy and some shelf-stable prepared desserts from EBT checkouts. (myflfamilies.com) The change comes through a U.S. Department of Agriculture waiver approved for Florida after a May 29, 2025 request from the state. The federal approval says the demonstration runs for two years and changes SNAP’s food definition in Florida to exclude those items. (fns.usda.gov) Florida’s Healthy SNAP site says regular soda, diet soda and zero-sugar soda are all covered by the restriction. The state also defines energy drinks as products with at least 65 milligrams of caffeine per 8 ounces that are marketed for energy or alertness. (myflfamilies.com) The same state guidance says SNAP users can still buy fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, dairy and other staples. Sports drinks, plain or naturally flavored sparkling water, drinks with more than 50% juice, and drinks with less than 5 grams of added sugar per serving remain eligible. (myflfamilies.com) Candy is defined broadly enough to include bars, gummies, hard candy and trail mix that contains candy. Florida’s retailer handbook also says checkout systems must be updated so restricted items are flagged as ineligible when shoppers use Electronic Benefit Transfer cards. (myflfamilies.com, myflfamilies.com) SNAP is a federal food-aid program that Florida administers through the Department of Children and Families. The state’s main SNAP page says benefits are still meant for home food purchases and already could not be used for alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, medicines, hot foods or food eaten in the store. (myflfamilies.com) Florida has roughly 3 million SNAP recipients, a figure the state and local coverage have used repeatedly in recent months. The state’s caseload reports page says Florida publishes monthly food-assistance family and individual counts, though it notes state totals can differ from federal reporting protocols. (patch.com, myflfamilies.com) The waiver is part of a wider federal push to let states narrow what SNAP can buy. U.S. Department of Agriculture guidance published in March 2026 addressed retailer compliance for food-restriction waivers, and advocacy groups say at least 22 states had approved waivers by March. (fns.usda.gov, frac.org) Florida says the goal is to steer benefits toward “more nourishing foods.” Anti-hunger groups have taken the opposite view: the Food Research & Action Center says restrictions add stigma and checkout problems, and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says limiting food choice can undermine dignity and worsen food insecurity. (myflfamilies.com, frac.org, cbpp.org) For shoppers, the immediate effect is simpler than the policy fight: the same EBT card still works in Florida grocery lines, but as of April 20 it no longer covers a narrower list of snack and drink items. (myflfamilies.com, fns.usda.gov)