Florida SNAP EBT Purchase Rules Changed
- Florida's SNAP program has new rules banning purchase of certain foods with EBT cards statewide. - About 3 million Florida residents who use EBT will be affected by the changes starting this month. - Advocates warn of food insecurity impacts while state officials cite program integrity improvements (patch.com)
Florida shoppers using SNAP can no longer buy soda, energy drinks, candy or certain prepared desserts with their EBT cards as of April 20. (myflfamilies.com) The Florida Department of Children and Families says the change applies statewide and leaves other SNAP purchases in place, including fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, dairy, plants and seeds. (myflfamilies.com, myflfamilies.com) Florida’s new list bars regular, diet and zero-sugar sodas; energy drinks with at least 65 milligrams of caffeine per 8 ounces that are marketed for alertness; candy; and “ultra-processed shelf-stable prepared desserts.” Sports drinks, coffee, tea, sparkling water, granola bars, BelVita biscuits and Pop-Tarts are still allowed. (myflfamilies.com) The restriction comes from a federal waiver, not a new act of Congress. The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved Florida’s request on Aug. 4, 2025, for a two-year demonstration project effective Jan. 1, 2026, and the state began enforcing the purchase limits on April 20. (fns.usda.gov, myflfamilies.com) SNAP is the main federal food-aid program for low-income households, and Florida administers it through the Department of Children and Families. About 3.01 million people in Florida received SNAP in fiscal 2025, according to USAFacts’ compilation of federal data. (myflfamilies.com, usafacts.org) State officials say the goal is nutritional. Florida’s Healthy SNAP site says the policy is meant to steer benefits toward “more nutritious” food, and USDA’s approval letter says the agency will evaluate how the waiver affects participants and retailers through quarterly reporting. (myflfamilies.com, fns.usda.gov) The change also puts Florida inside a broader state-led SNAP experiment. WLRN reported last week that Florida was one of 22 states with federal permission to impose nutrition-based purchase restrictions, and USDA said in late 2025 that Florida was among six states whose waivers would begin in 2026. (wlrn.org, fns.usda.gov) For families at the checkout line, the immediate effect is simpler than the policy fight: if an item falls into one of the blocked categories, Florida’s EBT system will not cover it. The waiver runs through April 19, 2028, unless federal or state officials change it sooner. (myflfamilies.com, usatoday.com)
