Emily Duprie
In a viral TikTok captioned “my blood is boiling and my mouth is watering” user tiktoshh discussed how she was denied the use of her EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card to purchase a sandwich and some sides at a Publix. However, things went south when the server making her sandwich made the mistake of heating it up, suddenly making it ineligible for EBT use.
EBT’s are an extremely helpful program for low-income holders, but like everything else issued by the government, they come with a few gray areas. One of which includes hot foods. EBT’s are used to purchase cold foods that can be prepared at home or outside of the establishment from which they’re purchased. By heating her sandwich, this TikToker’s food was no longer approved to be bought with her EBT card. Ridiculous, I know. That’s why her video sparked quite the discussion.
After picking out her sandwich, a couple of donuts, and some chips at her local Publix, the TikToker approached the register to pay for her items. When she went to pull out her card discreetly, the woman at the register told her she couldn’t use her EBT for this particular purchase. Baffled, @tiktoshh told her she had used it there before, to which the woman responded, “You’ve got a hot sandwich ma’am.”
“Well I didn’t ask for a hot sandwich.” The TikToker responded to the cashier.
“The clerk warmed it up.” She said back.
“Well un-warm it!” @tiktoshh yelled in response as she concluded her video.
This woman’s story of being denied a hot sandwich at Publix because she used her EBT card went viral on TikTok.
Users who saw the TikTok shared some words of advice on what to do when using an EBT card. Others laughed at tiktoshh’s eccentric attitude throughout the video, missing the strife hidden underneath the humor. A hot sandwich shouldn’t be clause to deny a person a perfectly good meal, especially when it wasn’t specified that the TikToker wanted it heated. Publix, do better!
What are your thoughts on this story?
Viewers shared their thoughts on the story and shared businesses that accept EBTs for future use.
