WIC Program to Emphasize More Fruits and Vegetables in Food Vouchers, Introduce New Cultural Choices

The federal WIC program, which offers assistance to millions of low-income mothers, babies, and young children, is set to undergo significant changes to promote healthier eating habits and cultural diversity.

Enhanced Food Choices

Under the updated rules announced by the Food and Nutrition Service, the program will now prioritize fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, while also expanding the selection of foods from various cultures. These adjustments, set to take effect within two years, mark the first comprehensive update to the program in a decade.

The modifications include a permanent increase in monthly cash vouchers for fruits and vegetables, a change initially enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, participants will have the option to purchase canned fish, fresh herbs, and lactose-free milk using their vouchers. These alterations are expected to be implemented by June.

Emphasizing Nutritional Gaps

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized the importance of these changes, highlighting the heavy emphasis on fruits and vegetables as crucial components of a healthy diet. These adjustments aim to address the nutritional deficiencies often present in the diets of many individuals.

Program Overview

In 2023, the WIC program served approximately 6.6 million low-income Americans each month, amounting to a cost of slightly over $7 billion. It is designed to supplement the food budgets of pregnant, nursing, and postpartum women, as well as provide nourishment for infants and young children up to age 5.

The program achieves this by offering vouchers to eligible mothers and children, specifying the types and quantities of food they can purchase. Despite its reach, it has been noted that only about half of those eligible are currently enrolled in the program.

Altered Voucher Amounts

The updated rules will adjust the voucher amounts for fruits and vegetables in 2024. Children aged 1 to 4 will receive $26 per month, while pregnant and postpartum women will be eligible for $47 per month, and breastfeeding women will receive $52. Furthermore, the changes will expand access to whole grains such as quinoa, wild rice, and millet, as well as foods like teff and whole wheat naan.

Conversely, allowances for juice will be reduced, and monthly allowances for milk will also be adjusted to align with the revised guidelines.

Scientific Basis

The adjustments to the food plans in the program are rooted in recommendations from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, as well as the federal 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

However, despite the comprehensive updates, the final rule did not incorporate a suggested change from top allergists—one that would have added peanut products to the list of allowable foods for infants aged 6 to 11 months, aimed at preventing peanut allergies. This decision was met with disappointment from experts who underscored the potential impact on children, particularly those at higher risk of developing peanut allergies.

Research has shown that early introduction to peanut foods can reduce the likelihood of allergy development in high-risk children. The omission of peanut products from the WIC guidelines raises concerns about exacerbating existing disparities in food allergy prevalence, particularly among children of color who are often WIC enrollees.