Food stamps and fast food
Food stamps are intended for purchasing nutritious meals, yet nine states permit their use at fast food establishments like McDonald’s.
Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa, advocates for change regarding this practice.
She revealed that over half a billion dollars from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was spent at fast food restaurants between June 2023 and May 2025.
“Let’s be honest, fast food is delicious and convenient, especially when you’re hungry and in a hurry. But let’s not forget, the ‘N’ in SNAP stands for ‘Nutrition,’ and we all know fast food isn’t exactly nutritious,” she stated.
Ernst pointed out advertisements from various fast food chains promoting the use of electronic benefit transfer cards, which are now used to distribute food stamp benefits. These include Subway, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, KFC, Denny’s, Jack in the Box, Burger King, and McDonald’s.
The issue gained attention earlier this month when the Trump administration announced it would halt payments due to a government shutdown. The administration claimed that without new funding approved by Congress, SNAP could no longer operate.
A federal judge countered this decision by ordering the government to utilize a contingency fund for partial payments and later directed funds from the school lunch program to cover full payments.
The Supreme Court temporarily stayed the latter ruling while Congress intervened with a new funding bill that fully reinstated the program.
Around 42 million Americans rely on food stamps, with approximately $100 billion allocated to the program in 2024. Supermarkets account for 74% of SNAP spending according to an analysis by Pew Research Center based on Agriculture Department data.
Pew also reported that online retailers like Amazon make up 10% of expenditures while convenience stores represent about 5%. Food stamps cannot be used for alcohol or tobacco purchases and generally exclude hot prepared foods from stores.
A study conducted by the Agriculture Department in 2016 found that 40% of food stamp spending went towards staples such as meat, fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs, and bread. Another 40% was spent on cereals and prepared foods like rice and beans. The remaining 20% was allocated to sweets and sugary drinks.
