What Foods Are Covered by North Carolina Food Stamps?

• North Carolina food stamps cover any food or food product meant to be consumed at home. Chris Cole/Digital Vision/Getty Images

  Food stamps are a federal benefit for people in need. Although food stamps are distributed through social service agencies in each state, the federal government funds the program and sets the rules about the types of food that can be purchased. North Carolina's food stamp program has the same rules about foods that are covered under the program as the other 49 states.

Fruits and Vegetables

• As in other states, North Carolina's food stamps cover fresh, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables. Participants in the program can also use their food stamps to purchase seeds to grow their own vegetables and fruits. .

Meat and Dairy Products

• Food stamps cover meat, fish, poultry and dairy products such as milk, butter, eggs and cheese. However, food stamps do not cover the purchased of live animals that will be slaughtered for food.

Cookies and Snacks

• Cookies, crackers, chips, popcorn, cake and ice cream are all considered food products, and are all covered by food stamps in North Carolina and the rest of the United States. Soda is also allowed, however there have been several proposals to add it to the list of products that cannot be purchased with food stamps.

Prepared Foods

• The Food Stamp program limits the types of prepared foods that can be purchased with food stamps. Food stamps do not cover any prepared food that will be consumed on premises of the business that made it. Food stamps also cannot be used to purchase hot foods. They can, however, be used to pay for cold, take-out foods such as salads and cold sandwiches.

Nurtrional Supplements

• In North Carolina and elsewhere, food stamps cover the purchased of nutritional supplements. Drinks such as Ensure and Boost that add nutrients and calories to a diet are covered, and weight-loss drinks with nutritional value can also be purchased with food stamps.

Products Not Covered by Food Stamps

• Alcohol, tobacco, paper products, soaps and household supplies cannot be purchased with food stamps. Pet foods, medicines and gift fruit baskets that contain non-food items that make up more than half the cost of the basket are also not covered by food stamps.