No soft drinks with food stamps? Here are some other things you can’t buy

A Florida state representative wants to stop people from using food stamps to buy soft drinks.

State Rep. Ralph Massullo, R-Lecanto, has filed a bill for the 2018 legislative session that would ban soft drink purchases because he considers the drinks unhealthy.

He remarked on Twitter: “Doing the right thing is never easy and seldom popular, but we work for the people of FL and their welfare and best interests.”

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, sometimes called food stamps, provides temporary assistance for needy families with grocery purchases. The program in Florida already bans nonfood products and a few foods as well.

Banning sugary drinks would require federal approval. It also could be a hard sell in Florida, where the sugar industry is a powerful lobbying force and the Republican-led legislature holds personal responsibility at a premium.

The bill does not yet have a companion in the Senate, but if it passes, it would ban any flavored, carbonated beverage sweetened with artificial or natural sweeteners.

Here’s a look at the grocery store items that that can’t be purchased with food stamps. (Source: Department of Children and Families)

Whether over-the-counter or prescription, no medications can be purchased with food stamps.  (John Moore / Getty Images)

Ingredients to make hot foods at home are acceptable, but Florida’s food stamp program prevents the purchase of hot foods at grocery stores.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

The bill filed for the 2018 legislative session would add soft drinks to the list of banned items for food stamp purchase. It defines soft drinks as “a flavored carbonated beverage that is sweetened with natural or artificial sweeteners.”  (RapidEye / Getty Images)