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Food Stamps Used For Frappuccinos at Starbucks

  • Spence Cooper
  • December 8, 2011

A Local FOX News station in Oregon reports food stamps are being used to purchase coffee drinks like Frappuccinos and desserts (pumpkin bread) from Starbucks.

In Oregon, benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are distributed through the state’s Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system, which allows recipients to obtain their benefits by using an “Oregon Trail Card” at the grocery store card-scanning devices.

With the help of someone named Jackie Fowler, who has an Oregon Trail Card, FOX 12 went to an in-store Starbucks within a Safeway in Salem, Oregon. Fowler purchased a tall Frappaccino and slice of pumpkin bread and paid for both using her Oregon Trail card.

Fowler claims she made the purchase only for the purpose of the Fox News story, and says she thinks it’s a gross misuse of the food assistance program.

“It’s crazy,” said Fowler, who showed Fox the receipt for $5.25. “They’re overpriced as it is,” said Fowler of the specialty drink. “That’s money that somebody could be eating with — a loaf of bread, a gallon of milk. There are a lot of loopholes,” she said.

A spokesman with Safeway told FOX 12 the store recently made the change as an added convenience to customers. “We think that compliance with state laws is something we can easily do,” said Dan Floyd, of Safeway.

The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program guidelines do not permit people to purchase foods that will be eaten in a grocery store or hot foods. Purchases that are allowed include soft drinks, candy, cookies, ice cream, even bakery cakes and energy drinks that have a nutrition facts label.

FOX 12 learned you cannot use an Oregon Trail Card at a corporate, stand-alone Starbucks location, but the Starbucks Fowler went to was inside Safeway and is run by the store. Fowler tried to use her card at a stand-alone Starbucks, but was denied.

The register at the in-store Starbucks location considers Fowler’s purchase a “grocery item” and as long as it’s cold, it’s allowed, according to store employees.

FOX 12 also contacted other local stores with in-store Starbucks, including Albertsons and Fred Meyer. Employees at those locations said as long as the beverage is cold or an approved food, the purchase would be allowed.

A spokesman with the State Department of Human Services told FOX 12 he wasn’t aware this practice was happening. “We’ll contact these grocery stores to get more information and make sure they’re operating within the SNAP guidelines,” said DHS communications director Gene Evans.

“They need to do something to stop it,” said Fowler, who receives around $118 a month for food stamps. “It’s just enough to get by,” Fowler says. “Don’t go abusing the system. It’s not what it’s for.”

Food stamp participation has increased by 18.7 million, and is now at an all time record with 46.3 million Americans receiving food stamps.

Food Stamps Used for Fast-Food

Food Stamps Used For Frappuccinos at StarbucksFood Stamps can be used to purchase fast food in four states across the country. The number of businesses approved to accept food stamps has increased by a third between 2005 to 2010.

Yum! Brands — KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Long John Silver’s — are among those applying for inclusion in the food stamp program.

Here’s a quick list of fast food restaurants in states that already accept food stamps for restaurant meals (Courtesy of ABC):

Michigan:

Church’s Chicken

Kentucky Fried Chicken

McDonald’s

Subway

Grandma’s Famous Chicken

Eight Mile Pancake House

Mr. T’s BBQ

Vito’s Pizza

California:

Jack in the Box

Subway

El Pollo Loco

Papa Murphy’s Pizza

Florida

KFC

Taco Bell

Pizza Hut

Papa Murphy’s Pizza

Arizona

Domino’s Pizza

Golden Corral

Southern Cuisine

Rally’s Hamburger

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