New WIC Rule Empowers Low-Income Families With More Fruit, Veggie Choices

WIC program low income families fruit and vegetable benefits Special Supplemental Nutrition Program

By E.Baloyo , Parent Herald Apr 10, 05:27 am

Photo: (Photo : CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / Getty Images)

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is expanding by offering more fruit and vegetable benefits to low-income families.

Under the WIC program, the federal government is making changes to help low-income women and young children acquire essential and nutritious food items.

The program's latest regulations will ensure increased funding for fruits, vegetables, and other essential staples, aligning with dietary guidelines from reputable institutions like the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, and the federal 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

WIC Program Adds More Fruit and Vegetable Benefits

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack unveiled today the finalized updates to the foods prescribed in the WIC by the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).

These enhancements to the WIC food packages are aimed at bolstering fruit and vegetable consumption, offering increased quantities and a broader range of options for purchase.

One notable change is the permanent extension of the fruit and vegetable benefit, now providing WIC participants with up to four times the previous amount.

Among the key improvements are:

Expanded whole grain choices, incorporating items like quinoa, blue cornmeal, and teff, aligning with dietary recommendations and accommodating diverse dietary or cultural preferences.
Enhanced flexibility in the dairy category, including varied package sizes and non-dairy alternatives such as plant-based yogurts and cheeses, with lactose-free milk now mandated.
The inclusion of canned fish in more food packages, promoting access to this often underutilized protein source.
The requirement of canned beans alongside dried beans, offering more options for legume consumption.
Increased flexibility in infant formula amounts for partially breastfed infants, supporting individual breastfeeding goals.

These updates aim to diversify participants' food choices, promoting healthier dietary patterns while granting WIC state agencies greater adaptability to tailor food packages to individual and cultural preferences, as well as special dietary needs.

These changes are expected to enhance the appeal of the program for both current and prospective participants.

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Low-Income Families

Today's announcement represents a significant step in the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to fully fund WIC for FY 2024, which includes an extra $1 billion for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.

This substantial funding initiative, totaling more than $7 billion, is designed to offer vital nutritional support to almost seven million pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and young children nationwide.

Secretary Vilsack emphasized the longstanding impact of WIC in assisting young families, underscoring the ongoing dedication of both the USDA and the Biden-Harris Administration to ensuring the program's enduring success. He emphasized that the participant-centered changes introduced will align with the latest nutrition science, promoting healthy eating habits and brighter futures for WIC beneficiaries.

Vilsack added, "These participant-centered changes will strengthen WIC by ensuring the foods participants receive reflect the latest nutrition science to support healthy eating and the brightest future."

Furthermore, administrator Cindy Long echoed this sentiment, noting the potential for these improvements to have lasting positive impacts on the health and well-being of the 6.6 million participants in WIC, as well as the millions more eligible to join.

The implementation timeline of two years for WIC state agencies allows for collaborative efforts with key partners to tailor the new food packages effectively to meet participants' diverse needs.