What is the most bought item with food stamps?

Studies of SNAP purchasing data using USDA and retailer loyalty data have consistently found that the most commonly purchased items with food stamps are similar to those purchased by the general population. The top categories by dollar amount tend to be meat, poultry, and fish, followed by breads and cereals, dairy products, fruits and vegetables, and soft drinks. When looking at specific individual items rather than categories, soft drinks, particularly carbonated sodas, often rank very high in terms of expenditure, which has fueled policy debates about restricting sugary beverages. Other frequently purchased items include ground beef, bagged snacks, cheese, milk, eggs, and white bread. It is important to understand that SNAP households shop much like other American households, with a mix of staple foods and some processed items. The data does not suggest that SNAP recipients have dramatically different diets from non-recipients at similar income levels, and the most bought items reflect affordability, shelf life, and family preferences rather than program-specific behavior.