The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), often referred to as food stamps, aims to help low-income individuals and families afford nutritious food. SNAP benefits can be used at most grocery stores, convenience stores, and even farmer’s markets. Understanding what you can and cannot purchase with your SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card is essential. This guide will focus on whether Can You Buy Deli Food With Ebt, alongside other eligible and ineligible items.
What SNAP Benefits Cover: A Detailed Breakdown
The SNAP program focuses on providing nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families, so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency. Generally, you can buy food intended for human consumption. Let’s break it down.
✅ Staple Foods:
These are the everyday essentials you typically find at a supermarket.
- Fruits and Vegetables: Fresh, frozen, or canned are all acceptable.
- Meat, Poultry, and Fish: Fresh, frozen, or canned options are all SNAP-eligible.
- Dairy: Milk, cheese, yogurt, and acceptable dairy substitutes like soy milk are allowed.
- Bread and Cereal: Includes bread, pasta, rice, and gluten-free alternatives.
SNAP offers flexibility within these categories. For instance, you can purchase nut-based milk, soy milk, or oat milk as dairy alternatives. Gluten-free pasta falls under the bread and cereal category. Even items like 100% apple sauce (fruit), eggs (poultry), or canned ravioli with tomato sauce (vegetable) are eligible.
❌ Hot Foods/Meals:
Generally, you cannot use SNAP benefits for food that is hot at the point of sale. The program only covers “foods intended for home preparation and consumption.” This rule excludes items such as rotisserie chicken, pre-cooked pizza slices, and hot soup from a prepared foods bar.
✅ Accessory Foods:
To complement the meals you prepare at home, you can use your SNAP benefits to purchase items like spices, oils, and sweeteners. You can also purchase snacks, desserts, and certain beverages. These include:
- Spices and seasonings (powdered, dried, or extracted)
- Honey, maple syrup, cane sugar, and other natural or artificial sweeteners
- Ketchup, mustard, and other condiments
- Potato chips, pretzels, popcorn, and other snacks
- Baked goods
- Cake and brownie mixes
- Ice cream
- Water, soda, lemonade, iced tea, fruit and vegetable juices, and certain energy drinks (drinks labeled as nutritional supplements do not qualify)
❌ Beer, Wine, and Liquor:
Alcoholic beverages are not covered under SNAP benefits, even if sold in grocery stores.
❌ Pet Food:
SNAP benefits cannot be used to purchase pet food.
❌ Cigarettes:
Tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and e-cigarettes are not covered.
❌ Pharmacy Items:
Prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements are ineligible for SNAP purchase. Be mindful of beverage choices, as some sports and energy drinks may not meet SNAP guidelines if they have a Supplement Facts label instead of a Nutrition Facts label.
❌ Personal Care Items:
Non-food items like soap, deodorant, household cleaners, diapers, toothpaste, mouthwash, and makeup are not covered by SNAP.
✅ Seeds and Plants:
If you have the space and inclination, you can use SNAP benefits to purchase seeds and plants to grow your own food. This can be a more economical long-term solution compared to buying produce from the store.
Can You Buy Deli Food with EBT? The Answer
Yes, you can buy cold deli items with SNAP benefits. Cold sandwiches, salads, and other deli items qualify for SNAP purchase as long as you intend to take them home for preparation and consumption. The key is that the food must be cold and intended for home preparation. This is because SNAP benefits are geared towards supporting the preparation of meals at home, rather than purchasing prepared hot foods for immediate consumption.
Where to Use Your SNAP Benefits
The USDA has strict rules for retailers to participate in the SNAP program. SNAP-authorized retailers must meet specific eligibility standards related to the amount of staple food they carry or sell. They must stock at least three different varieties of foods under each of the four staple categories—or that 50% or more of their gross sales come from items in one or more of the staple categories.
Here’s where you can and can’t use SNAP:
✅ Grocery Stores and Supermarkets: Almost always accept SNAP.
✅ Convenience Stores: If they stock enough staple food varieties, they should qualify for SNAP purchases.
✅ Farmers Markets: Some farmers markets may even double the value of your benefits. Check with the market manager before shopping.
✅ Specialty Food Shops: If 50% or more of the items sold are “staple foods,” you should be able to use your SNAP benefits.
❌ Liquor Stores: Liquor stores are not SNAP-authorized.
❓ Restaurants and Fast-Food Joints: Generally, you can’t use SNAP for hot meals prepared in a restaurant for immediate consumption. However, some states offer the SNAP Restaurants Meal Program for older adults, unhoused people, and/or people with disabilities.
Many retailers now allow you to use your SNAP EBT card online for grocery delivery and pickup.
Applying for SNAP
Need help understanding your SNAP eligibility and how to apply? Visit BenefitsCheckup.org for information on SNAP eligibility requirements, your local program’s website, and help with the application process.
Sources
- USDA. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Found on the internet at https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program
- USDA. SNAP Staple Foods. What Are Staple Foods? Found on the internet at https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer/staple-foods
- USDA. Retailer Eligibility – Prepared Foods and Heated Foods. Found on the internet at https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer-eligibility-prepared-foods-and-heated-foods
- USDA. SNAP Accessory Foods List. Found on the internet at https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer/accessory-foods
- USDA. Retailer Eligibility – Clarification of Criterion A and Criterion B Requirements. Found on the internet at https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer-eligibility-clarification-of-criterion
