Can CalFresh/EBT be used for candy, soda and junk food purchases?

Yes, you absolutely CAN use CalFresh benefits to purchase candy, soda, chips, energy drinks, ice cream, and other "junk food" items. There are currently no restrictions on these types of foods at the federal level for SNAP/CalFresh. The basic rule is that CalFresh can be used for any food items meant for human consumption EXCEPT hot prepared foods, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, vitamins/supplements, and non-food items. Your neighbor might be thinking of proposed legislation that has been discussed but never actually implemented, or possibly confusing it with WIC which has very specific nutritional guidelines.

ive been using calfresh for years and buy soda and chips all the time lol. ur neighbor doesnt know what their talking about. only things u cant buy is hot food from the deli, alcohol, and cigarettes. everything else in the grocery store thats food is pretty much fair game

While technically you CAN buy junk food with CalFresh, I always feel like people are judging me when I do. One time the person behind me in line made a loud comment about "taxpayer dollars for candy bars" when I was buying my kids some treats for Halloween. Now I'm always nervous about what I put in my cart. Anyone else experience this kind of judgment?

There are some states that have TRIED to ban junk food purchases with SNAP benefits but California isn't one of them. Politicians talk about it every few years but nothing ever passes because it's complicated to implement and kinda discriminatory tbh. Your benefits, your choice! 👍

Just to add some practical advice - while you CAN buy any food items with CalFresh, your benefits will stretch further if you focus on ingredients for home cooking rather than pre-packaged snacks. I'm not saying never buy treats, but budgeting your CalFresh dollars for mostly staples will help them last all month. The CalFresh Healthy Living program has some great resources for low-cost, healthy meals that kids actually enjoy: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DCDIC/NEOPB/Pages/CalFreshHealthyLiving.aspx

Has anyone else had trouble reaching the county office to ask these kinds of questions? I tried calling last month with a similar question and was on hold for over an hour before getting disconnected. So frustrating!

This whole debate about junk food and EBT is so classist anyway. Like rich people don't buy ice cream and chips?? Everyone deserves treats sometimes regardless of income. My family was on CalFresh when I was growing up and those little treats sometimes were what made things feel normal when everything else was stressful.

As someone who works in a grocery store, I can confirm that CalFresh/EBT works for pretty much all food items including candy, soda, chips, etc. The only things that get declined are hot prepared foods (like rotisserie chicken or food from the deli counter), alcohol, tobacco, vitamins/supplements, and non-food items. I've seen customers successfully buy energy drinks, ice cream, cookies, you name it. The system automatically knows what's covered and what isn't, so if it goes through, you're good! Don't stress about it - your benefits are meant to help you feed your family however works best for you.

Just wanted to add that if you're ever unsure about a specific item, most grocery stores will let you ask at customer service before you shop! I've done this a few times when I wasn't sure about something like protein powder or those fancy kombuchas. The staff are usually pretty helpful and won't make you feel awkward about asking. Also, if you accidentally try to buy something that's not covered, the register will just separate it out - no big deal at all. Your EBT card will pay for everything that's eligible and then you can pay cash/credit for anything else if you want. Don't let uncertainty stop you from getting food for your family!

I'm new to CalFresh too and had the same confusion! What really helped me was downloading the FreshEBT app - it shows your balance and also has a feature where you can scan barcodes to check if items are EBT eligible before you get to checkout. Takes away all the guesswork! Plus you can see exactly how much you have left to budget for the month. It's been a lifesaver for me as someone who was nervous about using my benefits at first.

Just wanted to share my experience as someone who's been on CalFresh for about a year now - I totally understand the anxiety about what you can and can't buy! When I first got approved, I was so nervous that I would stick to just the basics like bread, milk, and rice. But over time I learned that CalFresh really does cover almost everything in the grocery store that's considered food. I've successfully bought birthday cake for my daughter, Halloween candy for trick-or-treaters, and yes, even those expensive energy drinks when I needed the caffeine boost during finals week. The key thing to remember is that these benefits are designed to help you maintain some normalcy in your food choices - you shouldn't have to feel guilty about occasionally buying treats for your kids or yourself. Your family deserves to enjoy food just like everyone else!

I'm really glad you asked this question because I had the exact same confusion when I first got CalFresh! Like others have mentioned, you absolutely CAN use your benefits for candy, soda, chips, and other treats. I think there's a lot of misinformation floating around about this. What helped me feel more confident was realizing that the EBT system is pretty straightforward - if the item is eligible, it will go through at checkout. If not, the register will just separate it out. I've been using CalFresh for about 6 months now and have never had any issues buying snacks or treats for my family. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about your food choices - these benefits are there to help you feed your family, period. Your kids deserve treats just like any other kids, and you shouldn't have to stress about it at the store!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I just got approved for CalFresh last week and have been putting off going grocery shopping because I was terrified of doing something wrong at checkout. My mom keeps telling me horror stories about people getting in trouble for buying the "wrong" things with food stamps back in the day, so I've been living off whatever I had in my pantry. Reading everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - especially hearing from people who work in grocery stores and have been using benefits successfully for months or years. I think I was way overthinking this whole thing! Tomorrow I'm finally going to do a proper grocery run for me and my two kids, and yes, I might even grab them some ice cream as a little celebration for getting through this stressful time. Thank you all for being so welcoming and informative - this community feels like such a safe space to ask questions without judgment!

As a CalFresh recipient myself, I just wanted to echo what everyone else has said - you can absolutely buy candy, soda, and treats with your EBT card! I was in the same boat when I first got approved, worried about what was "allowed" and feeling self-conscious at checkout. But honestly, the hardest part is getting over that mental barrier of feeling like you need permission to buy normal grocery items. I've found that most cashiers and other shoppers really don't pay attention to what you're buying - we tend to think people are watching us more than they actually are. One thing that helped me was starting with small shopping trips to build confidence before doing my big monthly hauls. And remember, CalFresh exists specifically to help families access food without having to stress about every purchase decision. Your benefits are yours to use as you see fit for feeding your family!

Thank you so much for asking this question! I'm brand new to CalFresh and have been wondering the exact same thing. My caseworker briefly mentioned the basic restrictions but didn't go into detail about specific food types. It's such a relief to read everyone's responses confirming that treats and snacks are totally fine to buy. I was honestly scared I'd mess something up and somehow get in trouble or lose my benefits over buying the wrong thing. The anxiety around using government assistance for the first time is real! Reading about everyone's positive experiences and hearing from grocery store workers who see this every day has really put my mind at ease. I feel much more confident now about doing my first big grocery shopping trip this weekend. This community seems so supportive and knowledgeable - exactly what newcomers like us need!

As someone who's been on CalFresh for about two years now, I completely understand your confusion! When I first got approved, I was so worried about buying anything that seemed "unnecessary" that I basically lived on rice and beans for the first month. But here's what I've learned: CalFresh is designed to help you buy FOOD, and that includes treats, snacks, and yes - even those energy drinks your neighbor saw someone buying! The restrictions are actually pretty simple: no alcohol, no tobacco, no hot prepared foods (like from the deli counter), no vitamins/supplements, and no non-food items. Everything else that's meant for human consumption is fair game. I've successfully bought birthday cakes, Halloween candy, soda for parties, fancy cheese, ice cream - you name it. The key thing that helped me get over the anxiety was realizing that your CalFresh benefits are YOUR benefits to use for feeding your family however works best for you. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty about occasionally buying treats for your kids - they deserve to feel normal and enjoy the same snacks as their friends!

I just wanted to add my perspective as someone who's been using CalFresh for about 8 months now. When I first got approved, I had the exact same worries as you! I was so confused by all the conflicting information I'd heard from friends and family. What really helped me was going to the grocery store with a friend who had been using EBT for years - she showed me firsthand that you really can buy pretty much any food item, including all the snacks and treats. I've since bought everything from cookies for my daughter's school bake sale to fancy coffee creamer for myself. The only time I've ever had an issue was when I accidentally tried to buy some vitamins, and the cashier was super nice about it - just said "oh, these don't go through on EBT" and set them aside. No big deal at all! Your kids deserve those summer treats you mentioned, and you shouldn't feel guilty about providing them. CalFresh is there to help families like ours maintain some normalcy around food, and that absolutely includes the occasional indulgence. Don't let anyone make you feel otherwise!