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A Store Owner's Guide to EBT Stocking Criteria from FNS
Learn how to accept EBT payments with this resource that will help new SNAP retailers understand the requirements to accept EBT for SNAP benefits by explaining the FNS stocking requirements. To ensure SNAP recipients have ample access to staple foods, the Food and Nutrition Services requires that SNAP retailers stock a specific selection of items.
How to Meet Stocking Requirments
for SNAP Eligibility
According to the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), SNAP
authorized stores must meet one of two staple food requirements to accept EBT:
Criterion A
staple food inventory
Criterion B
staple food sales
Criterion A
Most convenience stores, small grocers and other retailers are authorized under Criterion A.
Under Criterion A, a store must have 3 stocking units of 3 different varieties for each of
the 4 staple food categories on a continuous basis.
(3×3) × 4 = 36
This is a total of 36 foods that must
be stocked at any given time.
1 in 2
There must be 1 perishable item
in 2 of the staple food categories.
Example
What might this look like for your store?
Vegetables
+ fruits
- 3x 100%
orange juice - 3x 100%
apple juice - 3x 100%
fresh bananas
3 of 3 items
Dairy
products
- 3x milk
- 3x yogurt
- 3x formula
3 of 3 items
Breads +
cereals
- 3x loaf of
bread - 3x pasta
- 3x bagels
3 of 3 items
Meat + poultry
+ fish
- 3x canned
tuna fish - 3x beef
jerky - 3x fresh / liquid
eggs
3 of 3 items
What are staple foods?
Staple foods are the basic food that make up a significant portion of a person’s diet
and do not include prepared foods, heated foods or accessory foods (food items
that complement meals). Staple foods can be divided into four categories:
Vegetables or fruits
Dairy products
Meat, poultry or fish
Breads or cereals
What food items really qualify for
SNAP or food stamps as staple foods?
There are a number of foods that you already stock or could easily add to your shelves that will satisfy the stocking requirement. Foods like apples, oranges and potatoes qualify in the vegetable or fruit category, but so do applesauce, orange juice and frozen tater tots.
Stocking perishable items in two categories may be one of the more challenging requirements for retailers, but there are many items that qualify as perishable that you likely already have in your store.
Click on each image below to see examples of FNS-approved foods
for each staple category.
Items with an asterisk (*) are perishable.
Vegetables
+ fruits
Vegetables + fruits
- Potatoes*
- Frozen tater tots*
- 100% orange juice*
- Fresh Oranges*
- Canned
tomato soup - Dried apples
- Pre-cut apple
go-packs*
- Fresh bananas*
- Pre-cut and bagged romaine lettuce*
- Canned
pineapple rings
*perishable
Dairy
Products
Dairy Products
- Fresh deli
sliced cheese* - Packaged grated
parmesan cheese - Whole milk*
- Refigerated
almond milk* - Shelf-stable
almond milk*
- Fresh salted butter*
- Margarine*
- Fresh whole milk
vanilla yogurt*
*perishable
Breads +
Cereals
Breads + Cereals
- A loaf of
multigrain bread* - Dried pasta
- Corn or
flour tortillas* - Plain bagels*
- Rice- or
oat-based cereal - Frozen dinner rolls*
- Hot dog buns*
- A bag of rice
- Whole wheat pita*
*perishable
Meat +
Poultry + Fish
Meat + Poultry + Fish
- Fresh deli-sliced
turkey* - Fresh
chicken cutlets* - Frozen chicken
nuggets* - Fresh
groud beef* - Beef jerky
- Canned albacore
tuna fish - Fresh
sliced ham* - Fresh
chicken eggs*
*perishable
Download the USDA SNAP Staple Foods Guide
This FNS document provides the USDA’s definitions of staple foods and
includes additional information regarding foods that are NOT covered by
SNAP, such as prepared foods, heated foods, or accessory foods.
One of our friendly representatives would be happy to assist you.
Not Sure if You Qualify for EBT?
We recommend taking our quick 10 question quiz to find out if your store meets all of the requirements for SNAP retailers or what you are missing.
Take The SNAP Quiz
Criterion B
Under Criterion B, a store must have more than 50% of its total gross retail sales
from the sale of staple foods. Most convenience stores do not fit under this
model, as specialty stores are more commonly authorized under Criterion A.
Criterion B Calculation + Requirements
Total Gross
Retail Sales
Non-Food
Sales
(Gasoline, Lottery, Alcohol, Tobacco, Other Non-food)
Prepared / Heated
Food Sales
Accessory
Food Sales
Staple
Food Sales
50%
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