Does Whole Foods Market take EBT?

Whole Foods Market accepts Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards in all their physical stores in the USA. However, the store doesn’t accept them online via its official website. Many shoppers wonder if they can use EBT payment for Whole Foods Market items using the Amazon website.

The answer is yes. Keep reading to find how you can use EBT to start shopping online with Whole Foods Market. We also share information on what you can and can’t buy from the store with EBT.

Does Whole Foods Market accept EBT online?

Whole Foods Market doesn’t accept EBT payment for grocery items on its official website. However, the store accepts EBT payment when you shop from its Amazon page.

Amazon owns Whole Foods Market, and also handles all its delivery and pickup operations via Amazon.com. Typically, Amazon and Whole Foods Market charge a service fee to cover the operating costs associated with handling your grocery delivery order.

Unfortunately, you can’t pay the service fee using your EBT card because the United States Division of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits anyone from using their SNAP EBT funds to pay for product shipping, delivery, or service fees. You would have to use a different payment method for that.

What other form of payment does Whole Foods Market accept?

Besides EBT, Whole Foods Market accepts cash, Apple Pay, and all the major credit and debit cards. Whole Foods Market gift cards are also accepted. You can get them in physical or electronic forms. 

Other accepted gift cards include Visa, American Express and Mastercard. Ironically, you can’t use Amazon Gift cards at any Whole Foods Market store. You also can’t use Whole Foods Market gift cards on Amazon.com. 

You can use the alternative payment methods to cover the costs of non-eligible SNAP items at Whole Foods Market. For example, your cashier will separate the eligible and non-eligible items for payment.

If the store offers self-checkout, then the machine will automatically separate your items for you once you scan them. You can then pay for the SNAP eligible items with your EBT card and then pay for non-eligible items with cash or bank card. 

What can you buy from Whole Foods Market with EBT?

You can buy all the items that the SNAP has approved. Below is a list of the eligible items:

• Fresh produce: these are raw fruits and vegetables that have not been processed. For example, broccoli, apples, tomatoes, peppers, berries, carrots, asparagus, and more.
• Meat and fish: meat like pork, beef, lamb, and chicken. Fish like tuna and mackerels.
• Breads and cereals: wheat bread, white bread, baguettes, tortilla, and banana bread.
• Dairy products: milk, yogurts, butter, cheeses, and ice cream.
• Snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages: popcorn, pretzels, potato chips, iced tea, ginger beer, smoothies, lemonade, and more.
• Seeds and plants: you can buy seeds that grow food or buy plants with food-producing roots or plant bulbs, and bushes. For example, potatoes and squashes.

Grocery items that are not eligible for EBT payment at Whole Foods Market

Below is a list of items that you can’t pay for with your EBT card at Whole Foods Market:

• Alcohol & tobacco products: That includes beer, wine, and cigarettes. We explain why alcohol has strict regulations in the USA.
• Live animals: unless the animal is to be killed and cleaned or prepared for you before payment. For example, fish or other seafood removed from water and cooked right there at the store.
• Hot foods: any food that still has steam coming out of it or has just been removed from the fire or oven.
• Pet foods, cleaning supplies, hygiene products, and cosmetics.

Conclusion

Whole Foods Market is popular in the retail industry, and for good reason. It’s best known for its organic and natural products, which is one reason why it’s expensive to shop at. The EBT payment method gives low income earners the chance to enjoy healthy meals with Whole Foods without breaking the bank.

Although you can’t pay for delivery or curbside pickup fees with your EBT card, it’s worth a trip to the store considering the product value you’ll be getting.