Wisconsin Republicans want to restrict what people can buy with food stamps

People who receive food stamps would no longer be allowed to buy shellfish

A girl pays for her mother's groceries using Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) tokens, more commonly known as Food Stamps in New York City (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

A Bill has been passed by Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin which could force those on food stamps to buy two thirds of their food from a restricted list, excluding luxury items.

The list of permitted items includes beef, pork, poultry, potatoes, dairy products and foodstuffs available under the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program.

People on the food stamps programme (FoodShare) would also no longer be allowed to purchase crab, lobster or other shellfish, according to the Journal Sentinel.

Fresh prawns are displayed at a fishmongers (Ian Waldie/Getty Images)

The Bill’s proponents argue that: "There is a direct financial benefit not just to the individual, which of course is obvious to have better health, but also to state taxpayers and society as a whole," said Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.

Every Democrat in attendance, at the Madison State Assembly vote, opposed the bill along with two Republicans.

"It's a restriction that's designed just to make the lives of those that are already struggling that much harder," said Republican, Lisa Subeck, according to The Capital Times.

"And instead, we should be focusing not on the foods people buy but on putting people to work by creating jobs that get people off of FoodShare," she added.

According to the Journal Sentinel, Republican Robert Brooks, the bill's lead sponsor, claimed that "less than 10 per cent or 20 per cent" of the items in his weekly shop were on the restricted list.

The food stamp bill has been opposed by local business groups who argue that the measure could prevent people from purchasing local produce.

It is unclear whether state senators will take up the Bill, however.