What your EBT card will and will not pay for — including items that surprise most cardholders.
Most people on SNAP have a general idea of what the program covers: meat, produce, dairy, bread, cereal, canned goods. What surprises a lot of cardholders is how far outside those basics the rules actually extend — and equally, where the program draws lines that are less obvious than they seem. Knowing both sides of this helps you plan your grocery budget accurately and avoid unexpected declines at the register.
This page covers what SNAP will and will not pay for under federal rules, what has changed in 2026 at the state level, and where EBT cards now work that they did not a few years ago.
What SNAP covers: the basics
SNAP is designed to pay for food intended for home preparation. The standard eligible categories are meat, poultry, and fish; fruits and vegetables; dairy products; bread and cereal; non-alcoholic beverages; and seeds and plants that produce food for the household. Most things people think of as groceries fall clearly within these categories.
SNAP does not pay for alcohol, tobacco, vitamins and supplements (with some state exceptions), medicines, non-food household items, soap, cleaning supplies, paper goods, pet food, or hot prepared food. It also cannot pay for delivery fees, service fees, or tips — those must come from another payment method even when ordering SNAP-eligible groceries online.
What surprises most cardholders
Deli items — cold, not hot. This distinction trips people up constantly. Cold deli items — packaged sandwiches, sliced lunch meat, pre-made salads, cheese — are SNAP-eligible because they require home preparation or are not intended for immediate consumption on the premises. Hot deli items are not. A rotisserie chicken sitting under heat lamps at the deli counter cannot be purchased with SNAP. The same chicken, if it has cooled and been moved to a refrigerated case, may be eligible depending on the store. Soup and chili sold hot at a deli station are not eligible. When in doubt at a deli counter, ask whether the item is cold and packaged for home use.
High-end groceries. Steak, lobster, king crab, and other premium items are fully SNAP-eligible because they are food intended for home preparation. There is no restriction on what kind of food you buy, only on whether it is a food item at all. Organic produce, specialty cheeses, and imported goods are similarly eligible. The program does not require recipients to buy inexpensive food — only food.
Birthday cakes and gift baskets. A birthday cake is SNAP-eligible as long as the edible portion accounts for more than 50 percent of the total value. Cakes with minimal decoration clear this threshold easily. Cakes with elaborate non-edible decorations — large figurines, expensive sugar sculptures — may not clear it. Gift baskets of food items (meat, cheese, crackers, candy) are eligible when the food value clearly exceeds any non-food items included, such as a small toy or ribbon. A basket where a stuffed animal accounts for most of the value is not eligible.
Energy drinks. Red Bull, Monster, Bang, and similar energy drinks are SNAP-eligible when the label includes a Nutrition Facts panel. Products that carry only a Supplement Facts panel are classified as supplements, not food, and cannot be purchased with SNAP. This distinction is printed on the can — if you see "Supplement Facts," your EBT card will likely be declined.
Candy and junk food. Chips, cookies, ice cream, soda, and candy are all SNAP-eligible under federal rules. The program has no restriction on nutritional value. NOTE: This is changing at the individual state level in 2026 — see below.
Seeds and plants. Seeds and plants that produce food for household consumption are SNAP-eligible. Tomato plants, pepper seeds, herb seeds for cooking, and fruit tree seedlings all qualify. Seeds for decorative plants do not. NOTE: Food grown from SNAP-purchased seeds cannot be sold.
Hunting and fishing supplies in rural subsistence areas. This one applies to a narrow population. In certain rural communities — primarily in Alaska — where hunting and fishing are a primary means of food production rather than recreation, some hunting and fishing supplies can be purchased with SNAP. NOTE: This is not a general rule available in most states and most situations. It reflects the federal recognition that in subsistence communities, these purchases function the same as buying meat at a grocery store.
Starbucks kiosks inside grocery stores. Packaged, shelf-stable beverages and food sold at a Starbucks kiosk inside a grocery store are SNAP-eligible because they are considered grocery items by the store. A standalone Starbucks location is not covered. The distinction is whether you are at a grocery store that happens to have a Starbucks counter, or at a dedicated Starbucks retail location.
Pumpkins. Food-related pumpkins — those sold for eating, including sugar pumpkins and pie pumpkins — are SNAP-eligible. Decorative gourds and carving pumpkins at a farm stand may or may not be eligible depending on how the seller categorizes them.
Pet food purchased as human food. SNAP cannot pay for products labeled and sold as pet food. However, nothing prevents you from buying canned tuna, cooked chicken, or other human food to feed a pet. Some households on tight budgets do this, and it is permitted because the item itself is food.
What you cannot buy — less obvious examples
Hot prepared food. This is the single most common surprise at the register. Any food that is hot and ready to eat cannot be purchased with SNAP under standard rules. This applies to rotisserie chickens, hot soup from a deli bar, prepared hot entrees at a grocery hot bar, and coffee. The Restaurant Meals Program provides an exception for certain eligible populations in seven states — see the restaurants that accept SNAP - EBT guide.
Vitamins and supplements. Even if a product has nutritional value, anything sold with a Supplement Facts panel rather than a Nutrition Facts panel is not SNAP-eligible. This includes protein powders, most herbal teas marketed as supplements, vitamin waters with supplement labels, and many health-focused products in the supplements aisle.
Delivery and service fees. When ordering groceries online for delivery — through Amazon Fresh, Walmart, Instacart, or any other platform — SNAP pays only for eligible food items. Delivery fees, service charges, and tips must be paid separately with a debit or credit card.
Bag fees. Several states charge a fee for grocery bags at checkout. SNAP cannot pay these fees. A separate payment method is required for any per-bag charge.
2026 state food restrictions: what is changing
This is the most significant update to SNAP purchasing rules in decades. As of March 2026, 22 states have received federal approval to restrict certain food categories from SNAP purchases, with implementation dates staggered across 2026 through 2028. These restrictions operate on top of federal SNAP rules — states can restrict more, but cannot expand beyond federal rules.
The most common items states are restricting include soda and soft drinks, energy drinks, candy, and in some cases chips and packaged snacks. Each state defines these categories slightly differently, and the specific implementation dates vary.
States with active or imminent restrictions as of early 2026 include Arkansas (soda, candy, and juice drinks with less than 50% juice, effective July 2026), Colorado (soft drinks, effective March 2026), Florida (soda, energy drinks, candy, and prepared desserts, effective April 2026), Idaho (soda and candy, effective February 2026), Indiana (soft drinks and candy, effective 2026), Iowa (taxable food items including candy and soda), Tennessee (processed foods including candy and sugary beverages), and Wyoming (sweetened carbonated beverages, effective February 2027), among others.
If you live in one of these states, check with your local SNAP office or the Propel app for the specific rules and dates that apply in your state. Items that are SNAP-eligible today in your state may not be eligible after the restriction takes effect. For a current state-by-state breakdown, the Propel app at https://www.propel.app/ maintains updated information on restriction status. Read more details on our Propel App guide.
These state restrictions do not affect what you can buy in other states. If you are traveling and shop with your EBT card in a different state, that state's rules apply to your purchase.
Buying groceries with SNAP online
EBT cards can now be used to purchase SNAP-eligible groceries online at a growing list of major retailers. This is particularly valuable for households without reliable transportation, seniors or people with disabilities who cannot easily get to a store, and families in areas with limited nearby grocery options.
Major retailers currently accepting EBT for online SNAP purchases include Amazon and Amazon Fresh, Walmart, Kroger and its family of stores (Fred Meyer, Ralphs, Smith's, Fry's), Albertsons and its brands (Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco), ALDI through Instacart, Target, Instacart (through participating partner stores), ShopRite, Food Lion, and Thrive Market. H-E-B accepts EBT online in Texas. Publix accepts EBT online through Instacart at participating locations.
Costco and Sam's Club accept EBT in-store but not for online orders. Trader Joe's accepts EBT in-store only.
The rules for online purchases are the same as in-store: only SNAP-eligible food items can be charged to your EBT card. Delivery fees, service fees, and tips must be paid separately. When you check out online at any of these retailers, eligible and non-eligible items are automatically separated and charged to different payment methods. More on using your EBT card on Amazon specifically is at discounted Amazon Prime for low-income families.
Surprising locations that accept SNAP
SNAP is accepted at more than grocery stores. Farmers markets in all 50 states can accept SNAP when licensed by the USDA to do so. Many farmers markets also participate in Double Up Food Bucks, which matches your SNAP spending on produce dollar-for-dollar — effectively doubling your purchasing power for fruits and vegetables. More on that program is at the Double Up Food Bucks overview page.
Many gas stations and convenience stores with sufficient food inventory are SNAP-authorized. Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, 7-Eleven, and similar stores accept SNAP for eligible items. Butcher shops, meat markets, and specialty food retailers can also be SNAP-authorized if they meet USDA retailer requirements. The USDA SNAP Retailer Locator at https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer-locator lets you find every authorized SNAP retailer near you by zip code.
This page provides general educational information about SNAP purchasing rules based on federal guidelines and publicly available state information as of early 2026. SNAP rules vary by state and change over time, particularly with the wave of state-level food restrictions taking effect in 2025 and 2026. Verify what is and is not currently eligible in your state directly with your state SNAP agency or local human services office before relying on any specific item being covered.
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