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What is food insecurity?

Food insecurity is defined as a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life. This can be a temporary situation for a household or can last a long time. Food insecurity is one way we can measure how many people cannot afford food.

What are the effects of food insecurity?

Food insecurity can have a wide impact, depending on each individual’s circumstances. Some of the most common, yet complex, effects of food insecurity include:

• serious health complications, especially when people facing hunger are forced to choose between spending money on food and medicine or medical care;
• damage to a child’s ability to learn and grow; and
• difficult decisions for seniors — often living on fixed incomes — such as choosing between paying for food and critical healthcare.

To get SNAP benefits, you must apply in the state in which you currently live and you must meet certain requirements, including resource and income limits, which are described on this page. SNAP income and resource limits are updated annually. 

Any food for the household, such as:

1. Fruits and vegetables;
2. Meat, poultry, and fish;
3. Dairy products;
4. Bread and cereals;

Other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages; and

Seeds and plants, which produce food for the household to eat.

Households CANNOT use SNAP 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 the water, and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store).
• Foods that are hot at the point of sale
• Any nonfood items such as:

1. - Pet foods  
2. - Cleaning supplies, paper products, and other household supplies.
3. - Hygiene items, cosmetics

Foods that have a nutrition label are eligible foods.

However, foods that have a supplement facts label are classified by the FDA as supplements and are therefore not eligible under food stamps rules.

The four staple food categories include:

1. Fruits or vegetables;

2. Meat, poultry, or fish;

3. Dairy products; and

4. Bread or cereals.

Staple food varieties1 are different types of food within a staple food category. Included

below are lists of acceptable staple food varieties in the four staple food categories, which can

be used to determine whether or not a food item is a staple food for purposes of SNAP

retailer eligibility. The lists also indicate which food items are considered to be perishable

staple food varieties, which are either frozen staple food items or fresh, unrefrigerated, or

refrigerated staple food items that would spoil or suffer a significant deterioration in quality

within 2-3 weeks at room temperature. 

*Please note that a shelf-stable food item that does

not require refrigeration until after it is opened is not perishable food.

Examples of Staple Food Varieties

The Vegetables or Fruits Staple Food Category: 

Examples of Staple Food Varieties

In the vegetables or fruits staple food category, “variety” is generally defined by product kind

or main ingredient. This means that apples, bananas, and lettuce each represent discrete

varieties. This also means that 100% apple juice and applesauce are not each considered

discrete varieties, as they are both considered apples. For multiple ingredient food products,

the first ingredient determines variety; a can of ravioli with tomato sauce listed as the first

ingredient would constitute a variety in the vegetables or fruits staple food category (i.e.,

tomato).

What follows is an illustrative, but not exhaustive, list of eight acceptable varieties in the

vegetable or fruits staple food category. Within each variety are two different examples of

food items for that variety. The multiple ingredient food item examples in this list would be

acceptable only if the main ingredient is in the vegetables or fruits staple category.

Perishable foods are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Vegetables or Fruits Examples:

1. Potatoes (potatoes* or frozen tater tots*)

2. Oranges (100% orange juice* or fresh oranges*)

3. Tomatoes (canned tomato soup or sun-dried tomatoes)

4. Apples (dried apples or pre-cut apple go-packs*)

5. Pumpkin (canned pumpkin or fresh whole pumpkin)

6. Bananas (fresh bananas* or frozen bananas*)

7. Lettuce (fresh head of iceberg lettuce* or pre-cut and bagged romaine lettuce*)

8. Pineapples (canned pineapple rings or fresh whole pineapple*)

The Meat, Poultry, or Fish Staple Food Category: 

Examples of Staple Food Varieties

In the meat, poultry, or fish staple food category, “variety” is generally defined by product

kind or main ingredient. This means that chicken, pork, and beef each represent discrete

varieties. This also means that beefsteak and ground beef are not each considered discrete

varieties, as they are both considered beef. For multiple ingredient food products, the first

ingredient determines variety. For example, a can of beef stew with beef listed as the first

ingredient would constitute a variety in the meat, poultry, or fish staple food category (i.e.,

beef).

What follows is an illustrative, but not exhaustive, list of eight acceptable varieties in this

staple food category. Within each variety are two different examples of food items for that

variety. The examples of multiple ingredient food items in this list would be acceptable only

if the listed main ingredient would be considered a variety in the meat, poultry, or fish staple

category. Perishable foods are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Meat, Poultry, or Fish Examples:

1. Turkey (e.g., fresh deli-sliced turkey* or fresh ground turkey*)

2. Chicken (e.g., fresh chicken cutlets* or frozen chicken nuggets*)

3. Beef (e.g., fresh ground beef* or beef jerky)

4. Tuna (e.g., fresh albacore tuna steak* or canned albacore tuna fish)

5. Catfish (e.g., frozen catfish filet* or smoked packaged catfish)

6. Lamb/Mutton (e.g., fresh lamb chops* or fresh ground lamb*)

7. Pork (e.g., pork loin* or freshly sliced ham*)

8. Chicken eggs (e.g., fresh chicken eggs* or liquid chicken egg whites*)

The Dairy Products Staple Food Category: 

Examples of Staple Food Varieties

In the dairy products staple food category, “variety” is generally defined by product kind or

main ingredient. This means that yogurt, cheese, and milk each represent discrete varieties.

This also means that Swiss cheese and cheddar cheese are not each considered discrete

varieties, as they are both considered cheese. Plant-based dairy products are also considered

a variety in the dairy products staple food category based on their main ingredient and the

traditional dairy product for which they are a substitute. For multiple ingredient food

products, the first ingredient determines the variety such that a jar of Alfredo sauce with

milk listed as the first ingredient would constitute a variety in the dairy products staple food

category (i.e., milk). Exceptions to this include plant-based dairy products, butter

substitutes, and infant formula, which are considered staple food varieties in the dairy

products category even though the first listed ingredient of those products is not always

dairy-based.

What follows is an illustrative, but not exhaustive, list of nine acceptable varieties in the

dairy products staple food category. Within each variety are two different examples of food

items for that variety. The multiple ingredient food item examples in this list would be

acceptable only if the main ingredient is in the dairy products staple category (with the

exceptions of plant-based milked alternatives, butter substitutes, and infant formula).

Perishable foods are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Dairy Products Examples:

1. Cheese (e.g., fresh deli sliced cheddar cheese* or packaged grated parmesan cheese)

2. Milk (e.g., skim milk* or whole milk*)

3. Almond-based milk (e.g., refrigerated almond milk* or shelf-stable almond milk)

4. Butter (e.g., frozen sweet cream butter* or fresh salted butter*)

5. Butter substitute (e.g., margarine* or non-dairy spread*)

6. Sour cream (e.g., fresh, lite sour cream* or fresh, organic sour cream*)

7. Yogurt (e.g., fresh whole milk French vanilla yogurt* or fresh nonfat peach yogurt*)

8. Infant formula (e.g., liquid, ready-to-feed formula, or powdered milk formula)

9. Soy infant formula (e.g., liquid, ready-to-feed formula, or powdered soy formula)

The Bread or Cereals Staple Food Category: 

Examples of Staple Food Varieties

In the bread or cereals staple food category, “variety” is generally defined by product kind or

main ingredient. This means that buns/rolls, bread, and pitas each represent discrete

varieties. This also means that hotdog buns and hamburger buns are not each considered

discrete varieties, as they are both considered buns/rolls. For multiple ingredient food

products, the first ingredient determines variety such that a frozen chicken pot pie with

wheat flour listed as the first ingredient would constitute a variety in the bread or cereals

staple food category (i.e., wheat).

What follows is an illustrative, but not exhaustive, list of nine acceptable varieties in the

bread or cereals staple food category. Within each variety are two different examples of

food items for that variety. The multi-ingredient food examples in this list would be

acceptable only if the main ingredient is in the bread or cereal staple category. Perishable

foods are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Bread or Cereals Examples:

1. Bread (e.g., a loaf of rye bread* or a loaf of multigrain bread*)

2. Pasta (e.g., gluten-free spaghetti or whole wheat rotini)

3. Tortillas (e.g., corn tortillas* or flour tortillas*)

4. Bagels (e.g., poppy seed bagels* or plain bagels*)

5. Pitas (e.g., low-carb pita* or whole wheat pita*)

6. Cold breakfast cereal (e.g., rice-based cereal or oat-based cereal)

7. Buns/rolls (e.g., frozen dinner rolls* or hot dog buns*)

8. Infant cereal (e.g., wheat-based infant cereal or oat-based infant cereal)

9. Rice (e.g., a bag of rice or a rice-based frozen meal*)

Accessory Foods List 

The following are examples of accessory food items and is not intended to be an exhaustive list. 

Snack and Dessert Food Items: 

 Potato, corn, wheat, tortilla, pita, and vegetable chips, crisps, sticks, and straws; onion ring snacks; corn nuts; snack mixes; crackers; pork rinds; pretzels; pre-popped or un-popped popcorn; and cheese puffs or curls; 

 Doughnuts, brownies, cupcakes, cookies, snack cakes, muffins, pastries, sweet rolls, pies, cakes, pudding, churros, scones, gelatin desserts, and any packaged mixes intended to create any of the aforementioned products; 

 Mints, chocolate, marshmallow, gum, toffee, brittle, fudge, marzipan, nougat, candy bars, and candy of all kinds; 

 Ice cream, ice milk, frozen yogurt, custard, whipped cream, sherbet, sorbet, gelato, granita, Italian ices, frozen carbonated beverages, snow cones, and ice pops; and 

 Any food product with the main ingredient that appears on this list or other Agency guidance as an accessory food item. 

Food Items That Complement or Supplement Meals: 

 Powdered, dried, or extracted spices or seasonings; 

 Baking soda and baking powder; 

 Sugar, honey, maple syrup, aspartame, molasses, high fructose corn syrup, and any other natural or artificial sweeteners; 

 Soda pop, sports or energy drinks, iced tea, fruit punch, mixers for alcoholic beverages, water, and all other carbonated or uncarbonated beverages (except milk, plant-based milk alternatives, and 100% fruit or vegetable juice);

 Monosodium glutamate, sodium nitrate, olestra, and any other food additives or any food product that is edible but non-caloric and non-digestible; 

 Vegetable oil, olive oil, shortening, lard, safflower oil, and any other solid or liquid oils or fats (except butter and butter substitutes); 

 Ketchup, mayonnaise, salad dressing, hot sauce, mustard, vinegar, relish, horseradish, chutney, duck sauce, marmite, and all other condiments; 

 Vanilla extract or other flavor extracts and cooking wine; 

 Gravy and bouillon; and  Any food product with the main ingredient that appears on this list or other guidance as an accessory food item (except infant formula). 

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The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public or FNS in any way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies. USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider, Employer, and Lender

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