Walmart Defends Shopping Free-for-All During Food Stamp Glitch

Customers cleared shelves during the frenzy

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Walmart has no regrets, even if it could cost them hundreds of dollars.

A spokesman for the retailing giant told ABC News on Tuesday that the company “made the right choice” when it allowed stores in Louisiana to sell to food stamp recipients with electronic debit cards — even though a glitch in the system that runs food stamp cards had lifted spending limits on them.

“Our focus was to continue serving our customers,” spokesperson Kayla Whaling said.

Shoppers swarmed into Walmart stores Saturday night in two Louisiana towns over a two-hour period, clearing shelves and buying as many as eight food carts a person.  But Louisiana’s Department of Children and Family Services said retailers are responsible for any spending over the $50 limit on cardholders.

Xerox, which runs parts of the EBT system, said a power outage during a routine maintenance test caused the glitch.

[ABC News]