If you have just been approved for Food Stamps and issued a SNAP EBT Card, you are probably wondering what you can buy with CalFresh EBT card. We can answer that question for you.
In this post, we will provide the list of eligible food stamps items, including what you can and cannot buy with your California SNAP EBT Card.
First, we will provide a list of places you can use your CalFresh Card
Also, we will explain how you can use your CalFresh EBT card to shop online for groceries for delivery.
Next, we will provide the list of food items you can purchase with your EBT card.
Lastly, we will answer the most frequently asked questions about foods you can and cannot buy with CalFresh EBT.
This post will cover:
- What stores accept CalFresh EBT cards online?
- What you can buy with CalFresh EBT card
- CalFresh Eligible Food Items FAQs
What stores accept CalFresh EBT cards online?
You can use your CalFresh EBT card to make purchases online at Albertsons, Amazon, Safeway, Vons, and Walmart.
Additionally, Albertsons, Safeway, and Vons currently accept EBT online when
choosing pickup at participating Drive Up and Go stores.
To find out more about how to purchase food online with your EBT card, see our post on How to buy groceries with CA EBT Online.
What you can buy with CalFresh EBT card
CalFresh benefits can be used to purchase any food EXCEPT heated foods.
See below for the complete list of foods you are allowed to buy.
Additionally, we have listed below foods that you CANNOT buy with your CalFresh EBT card.
If there is anyone in your home who is over 60, has a disability, or if you are homeless, you may be able to use your CalFresh at participating restaurants as a part of the Restaurant Meals Program.
For more on Restaurants that accept CalFresh, see our post on 280+ Restaurants that Take EBT in California.
Here’s what you can buy with CalFresh EBT:
- Fruits and vegetables;
- Meat, poultry, and fish;
- Dairy products;
- Breads and cereals;
- Other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages; and
- Seeds and plants, which produce food for the household to eat.
You CANNOT use CalFresh benefits to buy:
- Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco
- Vitamins, medicines, and supplements. If an item has a Supplement Facts label, it is considered a supplement and is not eligible for SNAP purchase.
- Live animals (except shellfish, fish removed from water, and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store).
- Prepared Foods fit for immediate consumption
- Hot foods
- Any nonfood items such as: – Pet foods – Cleaning supplies, paper products, and other household supplies.
– Hygiene items, cosmetics
CalFresh Eligible Food Items FAQs
We usually get questions from our readers about specific food items so we have provided answers to the most frequently asked items.
Can I order groceries online and have my items delivered?
If you are a CalFresh EBT Cardholder in California, you can shop online with your SNAP EBT Card for grocery delivery and pick-up at Walmart, Amazon and other grocery stores through Instacart.
Here’s the full list of participating grocery stores:
- ALDI
- Amazon
- Food 4 Less
- FoodMaxx
- Lucky Supermarkets
- Rancho San Miguel Markets
- Save Mart Supermarkets
- Walmart
Yes! Many California farmer’s markets accept CalFresh benefits.
Additionally, some farmer’s markets in California offer Market Match, a program that doubles your CalFresh spending on fruits and vegetables.
Currently, Market Match offered at 130 farmers’ markets across the state of California.
At participating markets, CalFresh shoppers can double their food dollars, receiving additional market coins for free to spend on fruits and vegetables.
For example, if you spend $10 in CalFresh benefits, you will get $20 total to spend on healthy food at the farmer’s market.
Also, many farmers’ markets accept other benefits such as WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) and Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers.
Can you buy energy drinks with CalFresh?
Energy drinks that have a nutrition label are eligible foods you can buy with your CalFresh benefits.
However, energy drinks that have a supplement facts label are classified by the FDA as supplements and are therefore not eligible under food stamps rules.
Unfortunately, No. You cannot use CalFresh to buy rotisserie chicken the program rules prohibit spending on hot foods.
Can I buy deli food with CalFresh EBT?
You are not allowed to use CalFresh to buy food you can eat at the premises or hot food in general.
You are only allowed to buy food you are taking home to prepare.
Therefore, when it comes to Deli foods, you cannot buy hot food from the deli or prepared foods like mac n cheese, chicken or sandwiches, stuff from the salad bar.
However, you can buy deli meats and cheeses and cold uncooked items from the deli with your CalFresh EBT card as long as you are going to take them home to prepare.
Furthermore, some delis that take CalFresh will display items that are eligible.
Can you buy a birthday or Ice Cream cake with CalFresh EBT?
Items such as birthday and other special occasion cakes are eligible for purchase with CalFresh benefits as long as the value of non-edible decorations does not exceed 50 percent of the purchase price of the cake.
Can you buy Vitamins, Supplements, and Power Bars with CalFresh?
The eligibility of vitamins and supplements, power bars, energy drinks, and other branded products must meet the following guidelines:
- Items that carry a nutrition facts label are eligible foods
- Items that carry a supplement facts label are classified by the FDA as supplements and are therefore NOT eligible
Can you buy Pet Food with CalFresh EBT?
No, you cannot use your CalFresh EBT benefits to buy pet food.
This is directly from the USDA Website.
If you attempt to use your CalFresh card to buy pet or dog food, you will be violating the law – which could land you in jail.
Here’s the bottom line:
CalFresh benefits can be used to purchase any food EXCEPT heated foods.
Furthermore, You CANNOT use CalFresh benefits to buy non-food items, including Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco.
CalFresh recipients over age 60, or those who have a disability, or homeless, may be able to use your CalFresh at participating restaurants as a part of the Restaurant Meals Program.
Questions?
We hope this post on what you can buy with CalFresh EBT card was helpful.
If you have further questions about the Public Charge Rule, CalFresh, or California EBT Card, please let us know in the comments section below.
Be sure to check out our other articles about CalFresh and CalFresh EBT, including:
Free Admission with California EBT (2021 Guide)
Restaurants that Take CalFresh in California
California P-EBT Extension for 2020/2021
How much will I get in CalFresh in 2021?
January Extra Food Stamps Schedule
February Extra Food Stamps Schedule
Related
Last updated on 12/7/21
If you have just been approved for Food Stamps and issued a SNAP EBT Card, you are probably wondering – What Can I buy with EBT Card? We can answer that question for you.
In this post, we will provide the list of eligible food stamps items, including what you can and cannot buy with your EBT Card.
This post will cover: What Can I buy with EBT Card? List of Eligible Food Stamp Items – FAQs
Food Stamps Fraud
What Can I buy with EBT Card?
Once you are approved for food stamps, you will receive your benefits each month on a plastic card called an EBT (electronic benefits transfer) card.
The EBT card works like a debit card. They can be used to purchase food at grocery stores, convenience stores, and some farmers’ markets and co-op food programs.
The food stamps program no longer issues paper coupons.
There is a list of items you can buy with your card.
For obvious reasons, food stamps fraud is a serious crime and can land you in jail (see video below).
The USDA, which runs the food stamps program has a strict guide on what you can and cannot buy with SNAP benefits.
Anyone telling you otherwise will land you in trouble. Avoid people who try to trade your card for other items, that’s also illegal.
Here is the list of food items you are allowed to purchase with your SNAP Benefits card:
- fruits
- vegetables
- meats, fish, poultry
- deli meats and steak
- dairy products
- breads
- cereals
- seeds and plants that produce food for the household
- soft drinks
- candy
- cookies
- snack crackers
- ice cream
- energy drinks (must have a nutrition label)
- live seafood, such as lobster, fish, and shellfish
- pumpkins (as long as they are edible)
- birthday cakes (the non-edible piece of the cake cannot exceed 50 percent)
- bakery items
Here’s what you CANNOT buy with your SNAP benefits:
- Alcoholic beverages
- tobacco products
- hot food (prepared for immediate consumption)
- Nonfood items
- pet foods
- soaps
- paper products
- medicines and vitamins
- household supplies
- grooming items
- cosmetics
List of Eligible Food Stamp Items – FAQs
We usually get questions from our readers about specific food items so we have provided answers to the most frequently asked items.
Can you buy energy drinks with food stamps?
Energy drinks that have a nutrition label are eligible foods.
However, energy drinks that have a supplement facts label are classified by the FDA as supplements and are therefore not eligible under food stamps rules.
Can you purchase pumpkins with food stamps?
Pumpkins are edible and eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits.
However, inedible gourds and pumpkins that are used solely for ornamental purposes are not eligible.
Can I buy gift baskets (like Easter Baskets) with EBT?
Yes, you can purchase gift baskets with food stamps.
However, gift baskets that contain both food and non-food items are not eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits if the value of the non-food items exceeds 50 percent of the purchase price.
Can you buy a birthday or Ice Cream cake with EBT?
Items such as birthday and other special occasion cakes are eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits as long as the value of non-edible decorations does not exceed 50 percent of the purchase price of the cake.
Can you buy Vitamins, Supplements and Power Bars with SNAP EBT?
Here’s what you need to know: The eligibility of vitamins and supplements, power bars, energy drinks, and other branded products, the primary deterrent is the label chosen by the manufacturer to conform to FDA guidelines:
- Items that carry a nutrition facts label are eligible foods
- Items that carry a supplement facts label are classified by the FDA as supplements and are therefore NOT eligible
If you are still confused about what is eligible and not eligible under SNAP rules, here is a simple way to look at it:
Generally, items that are not eligible include:
- Food products that contain alcohol or tobacco products
- Items that are not intended for human consumption (e.g., paper products, pet foods, etc.)
- Foods sold hot at the point-of-sale
- Vitamins and supplements
Food Stamps Fraud
Not a single month goes by without people and business owners being arrested for participating in Food Stamps fraud.
Use your card for what it was intended for and don’t let anyone convince you to purchase anything that is not on the approved list or use the card for anything that it was not intended for.
There are a lot of sting operations organized by local law enforcement agencies to catch SNAP Card fraud.
Also, once you are caught in food assistance fraud, you will be banned from ever getting any more benefits.
See the video below for a sting operation that landed 39 people in jail for SNAP fraud.
Your EBT card might not automatically block these purchases!
If you’re using your EBT card at a store, and plan on also buying items that are not on the list above, you should separate your orders and pay for them separately.
Do not rely on your EBT card or the cashier to separate these items out.
Even if you didn’t mean for it to happen, you can still face penalties if one of these purchases goes through on your EBT card.
If your EBT card is used to buy items that are not on the eligible list and you are caught, your state’s food stamps agency will set up a hearing to determine whether or not you broke the law.
You will continue to get your benefits until the hearing.
If they finds that you used your EBT card to buy banned items, the penalties are very serious.
First, any money spent on banned items will need to be paid back. You can also lose your benefits for:
- 3 months the first time
- 1 year the second time, and
- 2 years every time after that
Summary
We hope this post on “What can I buy with EBT” was helpful.
If your question was not answered and are still having trouble with eligible food stamps items, please let us know in the comments section below.
Be sure to check out our other articles about SNAP and EBT, including:
Free Admission with EBT in all 50 States
How to check ebtEDGE balance
ConnectEBT card balance
What you can buy with an EBT Card
How much in food stamps can I get?
EBT Card Balance Check
Phone number for EBT Card