Exciting news! 🎉 The #WICFoodPackage is getting an amazing upgrade, which means more options, flexibility in your food selections, culturally appropriate foods, and more access to fruits and vegetable. Learn how you can enroll https://ow.ly/qWmI50RbOyp
Other enhancements include, but are not limited to:
- Culturally Appropriate Options Increased: The updated WIC food packages now offer
a more comprehensive list of culturally appropriate food options, empowering
participants to make choices that align with their cultural preferences and dietary needs.
- More Choice and Flexibility: Participants will have increased choice and flexibility in
selecting foods that best suit their preferences and nutritional requirements. The
introduction of smaller package sizes and expanded substitution patterns enhances the
shopping experience for WIC families.
- Expanded Cash Value Benefit (CVB) Made Permanent: The enhanced Cash Value
Benefit, which has helped participants purchase more fruits and vegetables in recent
years, is now a permanent fixture of the WIC program. This development comes at a
critical time, as rising food costs underscore the importance of increasing access to
healthy foods.
- Based on an Independent, Science-Based Process: USDA’s updates to the WIC food
packages are grounded in an independent, science-based review process, which is the
cornerstone of WIC’s public health success. These revisions build upon prior updates
and are expected to yield similarly positive health outcomes for participants.
In a statement, the National WIC Association (NWA) expressed support for these science-based
updates, emphasizing the importance of swift implementation to ensure WIC families can
access additional healthy foods without delay.
“In a time of rising food insecurity and high food costs, increasing participants’ purchasing power
for healthy foods is critical,” said Georgia Machell, NWA President & CEO. “The updates also
provide participants with greater choice and flexibility, including a more comprehensive list of
culturally appropriate food options, that will make it easier for participants to maximize their
benefits.”