The Dangers of Policing Food Choices

A few weeks ago, I was scrolling through social media when I saw yet another post dripping with self-righteous outrage. Someone was complaining about what people buy with their SNAP benefits, ranting about how the government should ban the purchase of certain foods. Their argument? If taxpayers are footing the bill, they should have a say in what’s on the dinner table.

I sighed, clicked into the comments, and—like clockwork—there it was. Misinformation, cruelty, and an utter lack of critical thinking. People claiming SNAP users can’t buy from farmers. Others asserting that poor people should only be allowed to purchase "healthy" foods, as if poverty strips a person of the right to make their own choices. And, of course, the ever-present judgment about what struggling families put in their grocery carts.

Let’s talk about why this is not just wrong but also incredibly harmful.

Food Policing Is a Slippery Slope

The idea that people on food assistance should have their choices dictated is beyond disturbing—it’s dystopian. It implies that struggling means you deserve fewer rights, and that needing help magically voids your ability to decide what food enters your home. It’s the political equivalent of "Don’t Tread on Me!" followed immediately by "Let’s Tread on Them!" What the hell is even that?! Seriously, pick a lane. 

Think about it. If we start letting people police what others eat, where does it end? Today, it’s telling poor families what’s “acceptable” to buy. Tomorrow, it’s banning your favorite foods because some out-of-touch bureaucrat decided they’re problematic. Meat? Too much carbon. Grandma’s recipes? Not inclusive enough. Your guilty pleasure snacks? Declared non-essential by people who have never known real hunger. If you don’t want someone dictating what’s on your plate, maybe stop trying to control someone else’s.

Misinformation Hurts Those Who Need Help

All jokes aside, one of the most frustrating falsehoods I see online is that SNAP benefits can’t be used to buy from small farms, ranchers, or farmers' markets. Not only is this untrue but spreading this lie actively harms small-scale farmers and food producers who rely on local support. Worse, it discourages both SNAP recipients and farmers from participating in the program, cutting off access to fresh, local food that benefits everyone.

Let’s set the record straight:

SNAP benefits can be used at farmers' markets, local farms, and ranchers who participate in the program.

SNAP can even be used to buy plants and seeds that grow food, helping families become more self-sufficient.

Many farmers' markets offer programs that double SNAP dollars to encourage healthy eating and support local agriculture.

Every time someone ignorantly claims otherwise, they’re reinforcing barriers that don’t need to exist. They’re making small farmers believe they can’t accept SNAP. They’re making struggling families think they can’t shop locally. That misinformation has real consequences. Stop being stupid and actually help the people you claim to be championing. This is literally your chance to be the damn change you want to see in the world. 

Real People Are Affected by Your Words

I know a woman—let’s call her Maria—who runs a small farm stand. She grows her own vegetables and sells eggs from the hens she raises with care. A few years ago, she applied to accept SNAP benefits after learning that many families in her community couldn’t afford fresh produce.

But then, she saw the posts. The comments. The insistence that small farms couldn’t accept SNAP. She second-guessed herself. Maybe it was too complicated. Maybe it wasn’t worth the trouble. Maybe she wouldn’t even qualify. And so, for months, she put it off. In the meantime, families in her neighborhood continued buying overpriced, less nutritious groceries at big chain stores because they thought they had no other options. All because of a lie that spread on social media. Do better!

It wasn’t until someone in her community pushed her to apply anyway that she realized she could accept SNAP. Now, she has regular customers who rely on her stand to put healthy, local food on their tables. All that time lost—all those families who could’ve been helped sooner, and a small farmer that could have had more customers—because of misinformation that never should have been shared in the first place.

How Farmers, Ranchers, and Markets Can Accept SNAP

If you’re a farmer, rancher, or market manager, accepting SNAP is simpler than you might think:

Apply for Authorization: The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) manages SNAP retailer applications. You can apply online at the FNS website.

Understand the Requirements: Make sure your farm or market meets the eligibility criteria before applying.

Set Up EBT Processing: Once approved, you’ll need a way to accept Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) payments. Some states offer assistance in obtaining EBT machines.

Spread the Word: Many people don’t know they can use SNAP at small farms. Make sure your community knows you accept it!

For a detailed guide, check out the Farmers Market Coalition.

How SNAP Recipients Can Find Local Farmers

If you’re using SNAP and want to shop locally, here’s how to find vendors who accept benefits:

Use the USDA’s SNAP Retailer Locator: This tool lets you search for authorized farmers' markets and stores near you.

Check Your State’s Resources: Many states maintain lists of farmers and markets that accept SNAP.

Look for “Double Up” Programs: Some areas offer programs that match your SNAP dollars when spent on fresh produce. For example, programs like Double Up Food Bucks in Kansas and Missouri can help stretch your benefits further. You can find out more about these programs here on the Fair Food Network's site. 

Stop Spreading Harmful Myths

Before you share a post complaining about what people buy with SNAP, ask yourself: Who is this actually helping? Is your comment solving a real problem, or are you just making life harder for struggling families? Are you empowering people with resources, or are you reinforcing harmful myths that deny them access to fresh food?

Maria almost didn’t apply because of social media misinformation. How many others never do? How many families miss out on local, nutritious food because of lies spread in ignorance? How many farmers lose customers because you're spewing hateful rants? 

If you really care about how food assistance is used, focus on expanding access—not restricting it. Help farmers apply, help SNAP users find fresh options, and above all, stop punishing people for needing help.

Because at the end of the day, it’s none of your business what’s in someone else’s grocery cart—but it is your business to shut up if you don’t know what you’re talking about.

And if you do want to help instead of just pretending—start by sharing the right information.