State tax cut applies to bloody mary mix and mint snuff

October 2, 1997
By: Beejal Patel
State Capitol Bureau

Missourians who chew mint snuff are among those who will gain from the state's new tax cut on groceries. In Jefferson City, Beejal Patel tells us why:

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The new tax cut applies only to items that the federal government has categorized as food under the federal food stamp program.

But that's not as simple as you might think. Because the feds call as food things like bloody mary mix and mint snuff.

U-S Ag department spokeswoman Susan Acker says it was Congress that decided what is considered food.

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While Congress calls that stuff food, not covered as food are vitimins, cough drops, and even hot coffee.

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