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Dear Friend –
Should food stamps pay for Big Macs and french fries?
Let me know what you think:
Are you McKidding me????
There’s a McFlurry of folks rushing to the Golden Arches in the Golden State to feast on fast food—paid for with food stamps provided by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
It may sound crazy, but I’m not McRibbing you.
For millions of Americans, SNAP is essential to help afford nutritious food for their families. To most, that means buying basic staples, like fruits and vegetables or meats and dairy products, not Big Macs and french fries.
 Allowing fast food franchises to accept food stamps is a few fries short of a happy meal.
Yet, some beneficiaries are dining out on SNAP.
Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards are now accepted at more than 7,300 restaurants in California and eight other states as part of the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP). While originally intended to ensure warm, healthy meals for those who may be unable to prepare their own food, like the homeless or disabled, most of the RMP-approved restaurants serve highly-processed fast food.
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.
Still, folks with SNAP benefits are ba da ba ba ba… lovin’ it. A total of $524 million—more than half-a-billion dollars—in food stamp purchases were made with SNAP EBT cards through RMP between June 2023 and May 2025.
McScuse me? Food stamps paid for half-a-billion dollars of fast food over just two years.
While franchises like McDonald’s are making McMillions off of SNAP RMP, allowing fast food to be purchased with food stamps is an idea that is a few fries short of a Happy Meal.
 Are you McKidding me? McDonald’s is making McMillions off of SNAP sales.
That’s why I am giving my November 2025 Squeal Award to the nine states turning SNAP EBT cards into fast food stamps.
To end fast food purchases with food stamps, I am introducing the McStopping Chains from Using SNAP EBT to Make Entrees, or McSCUSE ME, Act, which also ensures SNAP beneficiaries who are homeless, disabled, or elderly have access to warm and nutritious meals. Now, that’s a real extra value meal for both taxpayers and SNAP recipients.
Squeal Award: Nine States Turning SNAP EBT Cards Into Fast Food Stamps
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Thank you!
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