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.
