Complete EBT-Eligible Food List
You can buy almost any food for the household to eat at home with EBT — fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, bread, cereal, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks, and even seeds and plants that grow food. You cannot buy alcohol, tobacco, vitamins and supplements, hot prepared food, or any non-food item. Below is the complete USDA breakdown, category by category.
Foods You CAN Buy With EBT
Under USDA rules, SNAP covers any food for the household, organized into these categories:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Fruits & vegetables | Fresh, frozen, canned, or dried — apples, bananas, spinach, frozen broccoli, canned beans, raisins |
| Meat, poultry & fish | Beef, chicken, pork, turkey, fresh or frozen fish, canned tuna, shellfish |
| Dairy products | Milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, eggs, cream, plant-based milks |
| Breads & cereals | Bread, rice, pasta, tortillas, breakfast cereal, oats, flour |
| Snacks & non-alcoholic drinks | Chips, crackers, cookies, ice cream, soda, juice, bottled water, coffee, tea |
| Seeds & food-producing plants | Vegetable seeds, herb seedlings, fruit trees — anything grown to feed the household |
| Baby food & formula | Infant formula, jarred baby food, baby cereal |
Foods You CANNOT Buy With EBT
- Beer, wine, and liquor
- Cigarettes and tobacco
- Food and drinks containing controlled substances, such as cannabis/marijuana and CBD
- Vitamins, medicines, and supplements (anything with a "Supplement Facts" label)
- Live animals — except shellfish, fish removed from water, and animals slaughtered before pick-up
- Foods that are hot at the point of sale
- Non-food items: pet food, cleaning supplies, paper products, household supplies, hygiene items, and cosmetics
The "Nutrition Facts" vs "Supplement Facts" Rule
For borderline products — energy drinks, protein bars, meal-replacement shakes — the label decides eligibility:
- "Nutrition Facts" label → eligible. The item is treated as food.
- "Supplement Facts" label → not eligible. The item is treated as a supplement.
Two nearly identical-looking products on the same shelf can differ, so check the panel if you're unsure.
Hot vs Cold Prepared Food
Temperature at checkout is what matters. A cold deli sandwich, a refrigerated rotisserie chicken, or a cold sushi tray is EBT-eligible. The same item served hot is not. (A small number of states run a Restaurant Meals Program that lets certain elderly, disabled, or homeless recipients buy hot prepared meals — an exception, not the rule.)
State Restrictions to Watch For
The list above is the federal standard. Some states have received USDA waivers that restrict purchases of soda, candy, or other items considered non-nutritious. These rules vary and change, so confirm what applies where you shop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you buy energy drinks with EBT?
Yes, if the energy drink has a "Nutrition Facts" label. If it carries a "Supplement Facts" label, the USDA classifies it as a supplement and it is not EBT-eligible.
Can you buy hot food with EBT?
No. Foods that are hot at the point of sale — rotisserie chicken, a deli hot bar, hot soup — cannot be purchased with SNAP. A cold deli sandwich or cold rotisserie chicken from the refrigerated case is eligible.
Can you buy vitamins or supplements with EBT?
No. Vitamins, medicines, and supplements are not eligible. The deciding factor is the label: a "Supplement Facts" panel means the item is excluded, while "Nutrition Facts" generally means it qualifies as food.
Can you buy seeds and plants with EBT?
Yes. Seeds and plants that produce food for the household to eat — vegetable seeds, herb plants, fruit trees — are EBT-eligible. Ornamental or non-food plants are not.
Can you buy soda and candy with EBT?
Federally, yes — soda and candy are eligible food items. However, some states have received USDA waivers that restrict purchases of soda, candy, and other items considered non-nutritious. Check your state’s current rules.
Can you buy pet food with EBT?
No. Pet food, cleaning supplies, paper products, hygiene items, and cosmetics are non-food items and are never EBT-eligible.
Can you buy a birthday cake or gift basket with EBT?
A bakery cake is eligible since it is food. A gift basket is eligible only if more than half its value is edible food; baskets that are mostly non-food items are not.
Does EBT work on live animals?
Generally no. Live animals are excluded, with three exceptions: shellfish, fish removed from water, and animals slaughtered before you pick them up from the store.
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Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service, "What Can SNAP Buy?" Last reviewed June 2026.