The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved a request from Gov. Henry McMaster to exclude candy and soft drinks from a list of foods that can be bought with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

McMaster filed an executive order on Sept. 3 directing the South Carolina Department of Social Services to submit a waiver request to remove sugary drinks and candy from the SNAP eligible foods. The order defined four food categories — candy, soft drinks, energy drinks, and sweetened beverages — to be removed from SNAP eligibility.

See Full Page