South Carolina has secured approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to exclude several categories of unhealthy items from the list of eligible foods under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins approved Governor Henry McMaster’s waiver request, which prohibits the use of SNAP benefits for the purchase of candy, energy drinks, soft drinks, and sweetened beverages.
The Governor announced his intent to seek the waiver in August and issued an executive order in September directing the South Carolina Department of Social Services to submit the formal request. The action is intended to strengthen the SNAP program by encouraging families to purchase nutritious food and ensure federal taxpayer dollars are used to their maximum benefit.
The waiver aligns with national efforts to improve public health outcomes. South Carolina is now among a growing number of states that have secured similar USDA approval.
Health data underscores the need for such changes:
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The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that South Carolina has one of the highest adult obesity rates in the U.S., with approximately 36% of adults classified as obese.
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A report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation found that 38% of children in the state between ages 10 and 17 were considered obese.
Furthermore, national data from the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey shows that SNAP enrollees consume significantly more sugary drinks than nonrecipients, with children in the program consuming 43% more than similar-income children not enrolled in SNAP.
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