Posted March 13, 2014
USDA recently finalized changes to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), according to a USDA news release available here. The final rule is available here.
This is the first comprehensive revision to the WIC food package since 1980.
“The updates to the WIC food package make pivotal improvements to the program and better meet the diverse nutritional needs of mothers and their young children,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
The changes include: a 30 percent increase in the dollar amount for children’s fruits and vegetables purchases; expanding whole grain options; providing yogurt as a partial milk substitute for children and women; allowing parents of older infants to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables instead of jarred infant food; and giving states and local WIC agencies more flexibility to meet the nutritional and cultural needs of WIC participants.
USDA reaffirmed its decision not to allow white potatoes in the program, according to a Washington Post article available here.
While this move has been criticized by the potato industry, USDA said it will continue to eliminate white potatoes from a list of eligible foods because people already eat enough and vouchers are not needed to buy more.
“The department recognizes that white potatoes can be a healthful part of one’s diet…However, WIC food packages are carefully designed to address the supplemental nutritional needs of a specific population,” said USDA in the final rule.
WIC provides low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age five with supplemental food assistance. WIC is administered by USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service.
For more information on nutrition programs, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
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