The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reminded grocery retailers that offering special discounts or incentives exclusively to food stamp users is prohibited under federal law unless stores first obtain an official waiver.
In a notice updated on Oct. 30, the agency stated that retailers authorized to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards “must comply” with the SNAP equal treatment rule, which mandates equal pricing and terms for all customers.
“You must offer eligible foods at the same prices and on the same terms and conditions to SNAP-EBT customers as other customers, except that sales tax cannot be charged on SNAP purchases,” the agency said….