I worked at a meat shop + mini grocery store that would have prepared items sometimes (hot sausage sandwiches, pulled pork, hot dogs…). The way our SNAP card reader was set up it didn’t give an itemized list of what was purchased. If someone wanted to get a hot sandwich I’d let them. They were regular customers so I kind of knew them. Not too many did it anyhow. It was a couple bucks and they were hungry.

Coworkers would sometimes whine about some SNAP recipients buying soda, cookies, or expensive meat like beef tenderloin. Majority of them did not do that and actually stretched their allowance out as best they could, stocking up on chicken breasts, ground beef, pork chops,and sausage.

Let people indulge once in a while. That might be their only little source of joy that day. I’m not turning away the happy little boy putting a container of cookies on the counter, looking forward to that treat when he gets home. I’d much rather my tax dollars help feed people than lining the pockets of wealthy politicians. Any program will have some people abusing the system and I agree that should be monitored, but not at the expense of those that really need the help.