[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/foodstamps.org\/Articles\/Article\/ID\/181\/food-stamps-what-can-and-cant-be-bought-with-them#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/foodstamps.org\/Articles\/Article\/ID\/181\/food-stamps-what-can-and-cant-be-bought-with-them","headline":"Food Stamps: What Can and Can\u2019t Be Bought with Them","name":"Food Stamps: What Can and Can\u2019t Be Bought with Them","description":"See which items you are allowed and not allowed to purchase with food stamps.","datePublished":"2018-07-06","dateModified":"2018-07-26","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/foodstamps.org\/author\/admin#Person","name":"admin","url":"https:\/\/foodstamps.org\/author\/admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e26111862ca029071a00a76fae48c51b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e26111862ca029071a00a76fae48c51b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"FoodStamps.org","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/foodstamps.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/FS_Logo-2.png","url":"https:\/\/foodstamps.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/FS_Logo-2.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/foodstamps.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/FS_Logo-2.png","url":"https:\/\/foodstamps.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/FS_Logo-2.png","width":100,"height":100},"url":"https:\/\/foodstamps.org\/Articles\/Article\/ID\/181\/food-stamps-what-can-and-cant-be-bought-with-them","about":["SNAP Facts","SNAP Survival Guide"],"wordCount":549,"keywords":["181"],"articleBody":"Food stamps are meant to act as a supplement to the weekly grocery bill for people who need a hand up, although some of the restrictions imposed on them can be a bit of a head-scratcher. Here\u2019s the definitive list of what passes through, and what needs to be put back on the shelf.Food ItemsIt may seem easy to know what is and isn\u2019t a food item, but the\u00a0USDA Food and Nutrition Service\u00a0has pretty strict guidelines as to what qualifies. Something like a frozen pizza, loaf of bread or head of lettuce is obviously a food item, but what about a store-made hot sandwich or slice of pizza? Not so much. Even something as simple as meat gets a line drawn across it, as the meat has to be cut up and not alive.The list of foods that\u2019s\u00a0okay to use a SNAP card\u00a0with are: Breads and cerealsFruits and vegetablesMeats, fish and poultryDairy productsSeeds and plants that produce edible foods The following is a list of foods that\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0be bought with a SNAP card: Food that contains alcohol or tobacco in itFoods that aren\u2019t edible for humans, like pet foodHot foods sold at the point-of-sale, like the aforementioned slice of pizzaVitamins and supplements Although the USDA FNS doesn\u2019t allow recipients to use food stamps for hot foods at point-of-sale, they do make an exception for qualified homeless, elderly or disabled people in certain areas that provide low-cost meals.Junk Foods\/Luxury ItemsThis is where the line gets a little blurry, because some people\u2019s idea of junk food may not be congruous with the USDA FNS\u2019, like a high-protein granola bar that\u2019s low on sugar and fat. Recipients can buy typical \u201cjunk foods\u201d like ice cream or soft drinks if they have a nutritional label on them, and \u201cluxury\u201d foods that don\u2019t, like seafood or steak.When it comes to iffier foods like energy drinks or power bars, the same stipulations are maintained: the foods have to have a nutritional label on them. If they have a supplements facts label, like on protein mixes or shakes, then they\u2019re not eligible food items.Not EligibleIt\u2019s almost easier to make a list of what people\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0buy with food stamps, as those stipulations are crystal clear: Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobaccoNon-food items like pet food, soap, paper products or household suppliesVitamins and medicineHot foodsFood that can be eaten in the storeCosmeticsGift baskets with non-food itemsOrnamental gourdsLive animals Interestingly, Alaska residents can use their food stamps to buy a bow and arrow because in rural areas, residents sometimes use that equipment to catch their own natural, free-range food."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Articles","item":"https:\/\/foodstamps.org\/Articles\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Article","item":"https:\/\/foodstamps.org\/Articles\/\/Article\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"ID","item":"https:\/\/foodstamps.org\/Articles\/\/Article\/\/ID\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"181","item":"https:\/\/foodstamps.org\/Articles\/\/Article\/\/ID\/\/181\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"name":"Food Stamps: What Can and Can\u2019t Be Bought with Them","item":"https:\/\/foodstamps.org\/Articles\/Article\/ID\/181\/food-stamps-what-can-and-cant-be-bought-with-them#breadcrumbitem"}]}]