Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or food stamps is a government program that helps low-income individuals and families purchase nutritious food. Among the questions on their minds is whether SNAP benefits can be used to purchase organic food. The response is yes; SNAP benefits can be used to purchase organic products.
SNAP eligibility for organic foods
According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), SNAP benefits can be used to purchase most food items intended for human consumption, including fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, and bread. Organic items from the same group can also be purchased. Regular staple items such as fruits and vegetables (fresh, frozen, or canned), meat, poultry, fish, dairy, bread, and cereal are all acceptable under SNAP, according to the National Council on Aging.
This means that SNAP recipients can choose to purchase traditional or organic food depending on their nutritional requirements and preference.
Purchasing organic foods with SNAP benefits
SNAP benefits are paid on Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards, which are the equivalent of debit cards and can be used at participating national chain stores. These include grocery stores, supermarkets, and some farmers’ markets that take EBT. When customers shop at these stores, they can select organic products as readily as nonorganic products.
It must also be mentioned that even though organic food can be purchased through SNAP benefits, the items must also meet standard SNAP eligibility criteria. For instance, beer and wine, hot ready-to-eat foods, and non-foodstuffs are not purchasable with SNAP benefits.
Double Up Food Bucks program
In an effort to bring healthier foods within affordable reach, programs like Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) have been launched in most areas. DUFB provides a dollar-for-dollar match, but to some extent, for SNAP recipients in the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables. Organics to You, a service based in Oregon, accepts SNAP dollars as well as is a participant in the DUFB program, for example. As per their website, “ALL SNAP customers will automatically qualify for the Double Up discount which gives customers up to $20 off their fruits and veggies with a $1 for $1 match from the Oregon Food Bank.”
These initiatives effectively double the purchasing power of the SNAP recipients for fresh fruits and vegetables, thus making organic produce more affordable and accessible.
Recent legislative developments
It should be remembered that throughout the years, there have been lawmaking and controversies regarding modifying what kinds of products are bought with SNAP. An example would be when the Iowa House recently passed a bill that would probably add new limits to what Iowans can buy using federal food-stamp money. These modifications would be implemented depending on whether or not the USDA approves a waiver from the approved list of food and drinks.
Similarly, other states have introduced bills to limit SNAP purchase of sweet foods and sugary beverages in an effort to promote healthier eating among low-income families. While such measures are primarily aimed at limiting unhealthy food, they demonstrate the ever-changing nature of SNAP regulations and the importance of keeping up with program guidelines.
