Final WIC Food Package Released

By Julia Landcastle/ NGA Coordinator, Political and Government Relations

On April 9, 2024, the USDA released the final WIC food package for the first time in over a decade. Changes in the food package aim to provide participants with more choices and flexibility as they shop to meet their needs. Now, states will have two years to implement their specific food packages.

The USDA has listened to many of NGA's requests for pack size flexibility and the usage of existing package sizes. The changes are highlighted by the food group with an additional explanation as to the impact this will have on the grocery industry.

Fruits and Vegetable

• The rule continues the pandemic-era increase to the Cash Value Voucher (CVV) fruit and vegetable benefit.
• Children 1 through 4 years: $26
• Pregnant: $47
• Postpartum: $47
• Breastfeeding: $52
• Requires at least one other form of fruit and vegetable in addition to fresh, including frozen, canned, and/or dried.
• CVV can now be used to purchase fresh herbs, white potatoes, and all package sizes with the exception they do not contain sugar, fat, or oil.
• For example, a platter with only fruit would be acceptable, but a veggie tray with Ranch would not be acceptable.

Juice

• The maximum monthly allowance of juice was reduced to 64 ounces for all participants.
• Participants can substitute a $3 CVV for 64 ounces of juice.

Milk and Milk Substitutes

• The WIC food package will decrease the milk allocation.
• 12-23 months: 12 quarts
• 2-4 years: 14 quarts
• Mother: 16 quarts
• Allows states to authorize package sizes that may not equal the maximum monthly allowance. They will instead create "up to" amounts. This will give grocers more flexibility in the package sizes they are able to provide for customers.
• Yogurt substitution amounts for milk increased; substitution will be allowed in a 1:1 ratio for up to 2 quarts.
• For example: 2 quarts of yogurt can be substituted for 2 quarts of milk.
• Requires a lactose-free milk option.
• Make only unflavored milk allowable.
• Creates new added sugar limits for yogurt and plant-based milk alternatives.
• Yogurt less than 16 grams of sugar per 8 ounces
• Plant-based alternatives less than 10 grams of sugar per 8 ounces.
• Soy-based yogurts and soy-based cheeses were added as substitution options for milk.
• Creates a calcium specification for tofu and a vitamin D specification for yogurt.
• We will likely see reformulation from plant-based alternative manufactures to meet these new requirements. These changes may come through existing products, or they may require you to carry new products.

Whole Grains

• Whole grain must be the first and primary ingredient in breakfast cereal.
• 75% of breakfast cereals must meet this criterion.
• The rule replaces the total sugar limit with an added sugar limit of ≤21.2g per 100 grams of dry cereal (≤6 grams per dry ounce).
• Maximum allowances for whole wheat and whole grain bread, and other whole grain options, have been revised to 24 oz for children and 48oz for mothers. This will make package sizes more flexible for grocers.
• The whole grain bread criteria must be 50% whole grains and the rest of the grains must be enriched or whole.
• Expands other whole grain options to help account for this criterion and create more choices for the consumer including: quinoa; wild rice; millet; triticale; amaranth; kamut; sorghum; wheat berries; tortillas made with folic acid-fortified corn masa flour (once available in the marketplace); corn meal (including blue); teff; buckwheat; and whole wheat pita, English muffins, bagels, and naan.

Canned Fish

• Canned fish has been added to WIC food package with revised amounts for specific dietary needs.
• The rule eliminates jack mackerel from acceptable canned fish.

Bean and Legumes

• Requires both dried and canned legumes which would add canned beans.

Packaging Flexibilities

The final rule allows states to authorize a greater variety of package sizes to increase variety and choice, while still providing participants with package sizes that ensure they can receive the full benefit amount (i.e., at least one package size, or a combination of sizes, must add up to the full maximum monthly allowance).

• States must make maximum allowance available but are authorized to include additional product sizes that provide less than the maximum allowance.
• Expanding package sizes will allow for more flexibility for WIC participants and retailers. This will make the program easier for retailers to administer while building flexibility for participants.

For more details, please read NGA's full summary here.

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