Should people who use food stamps be forced to buy generic?

I myself have received food stamps before when I was unable to work due to medical problems. I had 3 kids to feed and I thought it to be a blessing. I never took advantage of the system and I always shopped at Aldi and Sav-a-lot because I had to stretch that money as far as I could because it wasn't a lot for a family of 4. I don't understand how people could be buying all these expensive foods and still feeding a family for a month on what they receive in just food stamps. I was struggling to get mine to last a whole month and I was being very frugal. I guess if this is a problem in your area they should teach people how to shop and how to make their stamps last. I don't think it would be fair to limit people to getting only generics because that is saying that people don't deserve the right to choose what they eat. I can understand if people are buying 20.00 a pound lobster or T-bones and Filet Mingon. It is sad that there are people abusing the system when so many people out there are struggling to get by. I did hear that they are talking about removing carbonated beverages form being purchased with food stamps. I don't think it has happened yet but it is something they have been discussing.

hhhhmmmmmmm so what you are saying is that poor people do not deserve to have the same food choices as you or other non poor people? That poor people should have to eat a lesser quality (not all generics are lesser quality but many are) food than you or non poor people? Listen to what you are saying and think about how you would feel if you were in the position of needing government assistance and someone said that to you. How would you feel if you were a struggling single parent and had to tell your kid "no honey you can't have that kind of cereal it is not for people like us. That is only for other kids". Just how wrong is that. I am so offended by your discussion as I am a single mom who has had to have assistance in the form of food stamps from time to time because though I worked full time and went to school full time and raised my daughter full time there were times when my ex wasn't paying support and it was a choice of the light bill or eating. Grow up and get some compassion.

I have thought about this subject often. There have been times when I have been in the checkout line at the supermarket and the person in front of me is paying with food stamps. More times than I can count I see their cart filled with tons of junk food and the more expensive brand name items. I'm on low income (and do not recieve food stamps) and I often think they're eating wayyyyyy better than me. I go for nutritional value, and purchase very few brand names of anything I buy. One friend I used to have would pay with food stamps and have such things as crab legs, steak (not the cheap kind), Pepsi, sweets & treats from the bakery, Sara Lee, Haagan Daz ice cream, and all sorts of things that I only wished I could buy sometimes (but I don't.) Although she recieves assistance because of chronic health problems, I still don't see why she should be allowed to eat like a queen when the public is paying for it. It just doesn't seem right, does it? I've often felt that the gov't agencies issuing the food stamps should require them to turn in the receipts for the food that they purchased with them. In this way it could be supervised more realistically and there probably wouldn't be as much abuse of the system. Look at WIC, now there's a program that has rules about what can, and cannot, be purchased when you're on it. I have no problems with those who really need the help, but I do think there are those that abuse the privilege they get from receiving the food stamps.

I don't think it would make a difference because when you get food stamps, the amount of money you get in food stamps goes by your income and how many people you have on them. If a person chooses to buy all the name brand things it's on them because once you sepnd how much you get in a month you don't get anymore until the next month.

I agree, that would be a great idea. I think it would help more people. But, what the government needs to really do, is get most of the people abusing the system off. Then there will be more to help the real needy ones temporarily. Too many people live on the system. It was set up only to help for awhile.

Sure there are some people who abuse the system. There always have been, and there always will be. Forcing people to use generic products is not the answer though. I use many generic products in my kitchen and many of them are great... but many of them are not. Some are a much lower quality. Also, when shopping with coupons, how many coupons do you see for generic products. I can often get name brand products for the same price or sometimes even less than generic products. Should people be forced to give up the less expensive, higher quality name brand products in favor of the generic products? As for cutting the dollar amount, how would you like to suddenly have your grocery budget cut to nothing. I have seen too many people foolishly spend them all when they first come in at the first come in at the beginning of the month and have nothing left for food at the end. Others may have a bit extra left at the end of the month. There are some though, who have barely enough to eat as it is. Education is definitely the answer. People need to be taught how to use what they have better. If you can teach them to shop for the best deals, they can stretch their budget further, but I know too many people who barely get by. I don't know about all states but in Michigan they have gone to a debit card. The government can now track all purchases so if they wish to, they can find out who uses their food stamps inappropriately and who does not.

iam on food stamps and my family buy generic unless there out then we dont buy it

I have to agree with both who posted above me. The government should restructure the program to weed out the abusers and players and also put some restrictions on what can be purchased with the food stamps. It isn't fair that I can't afford to buy all that stuff mentioned in the first post, yet my tax money purchases it for someone on the dole. I don't begrudge those who truly need help. Just try to make good choices and get the most bang for the buck.

Some people do go over board with what they buy. Everyone is so oh you mean poor people shouldn't have good food too. But what about the rest of us who have fallen on hard times? If we have hard times in my house, we don't have food stamps to fall back on. I can't say well I can reduce my grocery bill by 100.00 because I have food stamps. I have to take out all the extras that those with food stamps don't have to cut out. I'm not talking about soda and junk food because there are times we don't buy those even when I know I have a lot of money. My husband has a good job and there are tons of us out there who have fallen on hard times and we don't have the system to fall back on because they tend to look at our overall earnings. And as far as I knew food stamps weren't to supply you with your food for the whole month but to supplement what you already have in your grocery bill. Yes, there are certain things that need to be removed from the food stamp list. Soda is a big one and I'm glad to see that someone said that is being considered. It could be more helpful if the gov't handed out vouchers like WIC does or did. You had select things from each voucher you could get and yes it could be namebrand if that is what you wanted. I can't think of too much they can do. People are going to buy what they want. But I'm tired of hearing how why shouldn't we have what we want....just remember when the rest of us who can't use welfare fall on hard times, we cut out the junk food, extras and often times things we need because we can't afford them and there is no one there to help us. I know this may have came out snotty and that was NOT my intention. It is hard because I can't share my tone with you all...

I have known people who used these. Many of them do buy generic, when possible. Personally, when I can't tell the difference, I will buy generic first. I just don't see much difference in, for example, toilet paper. What are you using it for, anyway? You're just going to use it once and flush it down the toilet. So, what's the big deal, anyway. What you are suggesting sounds like dictating, and I have been used to thinking that this is a democratic country. Everyone is supposed to have free choice.

I think that this might be a great idea. Most of us but generic in order to stretch our own dollars, whether or not we receive food stamps. Part of the social services program for receiving food stamp benefits should include a mandatory course on grocery shopping and stretching the budget. Maybe a lot of these people do not understand how much more they could actually get for their money by making a few smart changes in their buying habits. Where I used to work, there was a grant-funded grocery program where qualified patients received $100 gift cards every month to use for food at one of the local grocery stores. They were required to turn in receipts for all purchases, and the receipts were scrutinized for appropriate purchases. They had certain foods and items that were not allowed, such as junk foods, pizzas and "prepared meals" from the deli, etc. If those things showed up on the receipts, the person's account was cancelled and the grant was re-distributed to someone who would follow the rules. The purpose was that $100 would go a lot further if you bought grocery staples and necessities rather than a pizza and wings for your football party.

Everyone has a different taste in things. Some like generic and some don't. I know that we usually buy a little of everything. Name brand or generic. Some generic is good and some taste like crap, but that goes the same with name brand stuff as well. Another thing is, if you pay close attention to prices, sometimes name brand can actually be cheaper then the generic stuff. Anyway, on to other things, the government has no way of really inforcing this. So I doubt it will ever happen or do I think it should happen. Just because they are on foodstamps doesn't mean we or anyone should tell them what to buy or eat. That just isn't fair to treat them like that just because they are a low income family.

What a great idea. I honestly would never have thought of that. We buy generic foods quite often and can't really taste that much of a difference between them and the name brands.

I don't think they should be FORCED to use generic products, but it would be smarter for them to. I don't have an issue with people buying healthy food with their food stamps, even if it is name brand. I do have a problem when I'm behind someone in line at the grocery store and they are buy tons of junk food, candy, sodas, etc. and then they pay with food stamps. If they are using food stamps for these items I doubt that they are buying the quality healthy food with their own money. I really hate this when I see kids with them who are clearly obese and could really benefit from a healthier diet.

I have been on food stamps and I didn't get much, about 150 and only because I was a student and didn't make enough at my job. I have no problem buying generic brands, but I know some people who have to buy certin items because they have allergys. I do know that there are many people who get way too much for food stamps. I worked as a cashier for a while and I remember one day a guy, his wife and there 2 kids came through my line. They bought $500 worth of food, then paid with food stamps.. I thought that was alot to have, but didn't say anything, but when I went to show them what they had left it showed a balance of $1200 now personaly i think that is way to much! no one needs that much money per month for food. Then I thought maybe they had some left from the last month, it happens, but they came back in a few weeks later with $1400. That is something that needs to be fixed, no one needs to spend that much on food. my mother fed 8 people for one month on $450, with a little out of pocket. The other thing that needs to be fixed is that they need to limit how much pop and sweets you can buy, since they have the cards now they could easily program them so that you only get so much tward pop, chips and candy. I lived with a family for a while where the parents used the foodstamps to buy pop for themselfs and I ended up buying food for the kids and me.

i see no problem with that. i buy generic as much as i can, and i'm not on welfare. the prices of food go up so much, its a blessing that there are generic items.

I think they should all be forced to spend them at ALDI's. We would no longer have to give them as many food stamps to live on. Just ask me how to make the government run better! I have so many ideas.

I think this is a great idea!! I'll never forget the time I was in the checkout line and the lady in front of me had about 20 frozen breakfasts, and a lot of fruit punch. I thought nothing of it, (except that there was no variety!) until she used her food stamps to pay for it all. That's all that was in her cart too. It just seemed she could have gotten so many different, nutritious things instead of frozen breakfasts and fruit punch. :-)

People on foodstamps already do this. By choice, not because they are forced to. Oh, excuse me...not necessarily by choice, but out of necessity. I get foodstamps and buy most of my food as cheaply as possible. However, there are just some generic/store brand items that are just plain nasty. No one should be "forced" to purchase a particular way.

yes they should! If you are using government money to purchase products, you should want to strech that a far as possible, and buying generic brands is the way to do that. I know people who arent on government assisted programs that buy generic products b/c it makes sense. For someone on govt assistant to not buy generic products is an abuse of the Food stamp program