‘There’s a better way’: Lowcountry groups concerned over SNAP restrictions

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - If you are part of a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program household, there could be a restriction on buying candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and other sweetened drinks.

A Department of Social Services report says there were over 270,000 South Carolina households that used SNAP benefits in August.

Some organizations in the Lowcountry are now concerned with community impacts following an executive order made by Gov. Henry McMaster to make changes to what you can buy with SNAP benefits.

“These changes that we’re seeing to the SNAP benefits are ultimately going to lead to a greater need amongst our community and amongst our neighbors, so an increase in demand, and that’s what we’re anticipating here at the food bank,” Nick Osborne, the CEO and President of the Lowcountry Foodbank, said.

He said changing the SNAP benefits will create a domino effect not only among the hundreds of thousands of neighbors they serve, but also the community at large. Osborne went on to say these restrictions take away the choice to a rounded life and shopping with dignity.

“We want to go into a store and have the freedom to choose, and that freedom to choose is what suits us and our lives, and that is nutritious food, but also what’s to stop someone buying the occasional candy bar for their child,” Osborne said.

Louis Smith, Executive Director of the Community Resource Center, points to a greater call to action, one that looks at the big picture of the tiny label on the wrapper.

“When we look at the address, the health issues in regards to the sugars, M&Ms is not the reason. It’s the additives and the preservatives that we put in our food these days that’s causing all these health issues,” Smith said.

He said the burden falls on those who are in desperate need of food assistance.

“I think we do have to eat healthier and be healthier, but I think there’s a better way of attacking the problem than putting the burden on the shopper and the store that has to keep up with this,” Smith said.

The order directs DSS to submit its waiver request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture within 14 days. If denied, DSS will revise and resubmit until approval is granted.

DSS shared a statement regarding this change:

“The Department of Social Services (DSS) has received Executive Order 2025-30 issued by Governor Henry McMaster and will comply with the directive to submit a waiver request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to exclude the purchase of candy, energy drinks, soft drinks, and sweetened beverages from the list of eligible foods under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) within fourteen (14) days"

They also said they wanted to remind SNAP households that there is a Health Bucks program for those who purchase at least five dollars in their SNAP EBT card at certain locations, they can receive an additional fifteen dollars in Health Bucks tokens to purchase more fruit and vegetables.

The executive order provides these definitions for the specific items McMaster hopes to prevent SNAP benefits from being used to purchase:

• Candy is defined as a preparation of sugar, honey, or other natural or artificial sweeteners in combination with chocolate, fruits, nuts, or other ingredients in the form of bars, drops or pieces. Candy shall not include the following: protein bars, granola bars, or baking ingredients such as sprinkles, chocolate melting wafers, toffee bits, or chocolate chips, or items primarily identified and sold as bakery or bread products, such as baked goods, cakes, crackers, cookies, muffins, brownies, pastries, bread or similar products. 
• Energy drinks are defined as beverages containing at least 65 milligrams of caffeine per eight fluid ounces that are advertised as being specifically designed to provide metabolic stimulation or an increase to the consumer’s mental or physical energy. Energy drinks shall not include coffee or tea or any substantially coffee- or tea-based beverage. 
• Soft Drinks are defined as any nonalcoholic beverage made with carbonated water and flavored or sweetened, or both, with sugar or other natural or artificial sweeteners. 
• Sweetened beverages are defined as any sweetened beverage, flavored or sweetened or both, with five grams or more of added sugar or other natural or artificial sweeteners, ready for consumption without further processing, such as sweetened coffee, tea, lemonade and other noncarbonated drinks. 
• Soft drinks and sweetened beverages shall not include:
• • A beverage that contains milk, milk products, soy, rice or other milk substitutes;
  • Any beverage consisting of 50% or more natural fruit or vegetable juice with no added caloric sweetener; 
  • Any product commonly referred to as “infant” or “baby” formula;
  • Sports or rehydration beverages;
  • Carbonated water beverages; or
  • Any beverage for medical use, meaning any beverage suitable for human consumption and manufactured for use as a source of necessary nutrition due to a medical condition, or for use as an oral rehydration electrolyte solution for infants and children, formulated to prevent or treat dehydration due to illness.