New Hope in the Fight for Nutrition Security with WIC
Introduction
Food and nutrition security is taking a step forward with new support for families who receive assistance through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Standing in stark contrast with calls for cuts and restrictions to WIC, recent updates and legislative efforts are increasing access to nutritious, culturally relevant food and nutrition education.
Understanding WIC’s Role and Reach
Designed as a supplemental program to support pregnant women and caretakers of children up to 5 years old living with an income less than 185% of the poverty level, WIC provides families with both food and nutrition education as well as supplemental food packages. These packages are based on the age of the child, the pregnancy stage, and the breastfeeding status of the mother, and also include infant formula and breastfeeding support. Through these initiatives, WIC helps to mitigate malnutrition and promote public health among our most vulnerable populations (Oliveira & Frazão, 2022).
The Legislative Battle Over WIC
At the beginning of the year, advocates for food security expressed concern over the stability and security of WIC given looming threats of cuts and restrictions on eligible purchases. Legislators advocating for reductions in WIC funding posited that reductions in government spending were necessary for economic stability—welfare programs like WIC are often the first on the chopping block. Those advocating for cuts also expressed concerns about the effectiveness of these programs and suggested that a reduction in government assistance facilitates greater self-reliance in communities of need. Furthermore, various proposals suggested implementing harsh restrictions on the types of foods that could be purchased with WIC benefits, arguing that the program must mandate healthier eating effectively.
These perspectives faced strong opposition from advocates of food security, public health officials, and legislators who value the crucial role that WIC maintains in community health. The WIC guidelines have a demonstrated track record of serving some of the most vulnerable populations and improving diet quality (cite). WIC serves approximately 6.3 million participants each month — a testament to the critical needs of our communities (USDA, 2022). Advocates rallied for the fight, stating that restrictions and purchase limitations would undermine the program's ability to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
WIC’s Evolution During the Pandemic
The importance of WIC has been crucially important. This was recently highlighted throughout the COVID-19 pandemic — as increased benefits were a lifeline to families. Access to health-promoting food was paramount to ensuring community health. When comparing February 2020 to February 2022:
- WIC reached 6.2 million participants, a 1.2% increase.
- Among children, there was an 8.7% increase in WIC participation.
- WIC participation increased in 22 states and the District of Columbia. WIC participation decreased or had no change in 29 states
(FRAC, 2022).
Before the pandemic, the original benefit amount was up to $9 per month for children and $11 per month for women. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress, through the American Rescue Plan, increased the monthly value of fruits and vegetables in WIC food packages to $35 per participant for four months (FRAC, 2022). However, these temporary measures expired, and, as of September 2021, these rates dropped to $24 per month for children, and between $43 and $47 for pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding participants (note that this is still significantly above pre-pandemic support).
Nonetheless, this increase from pre-pandemic values demonstrates an increased desire for access to fresh and health-promoting fruits and vegetables.
Addressing Challenges in Low-Income Areas
Despite the demonstrated success of programs that increase access to nutritious foods, challenges persist. Low-income neighborhoods, often described as living within "food deserts," “food swamps,” or "food apartheid" zones, lack access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food. However, various studies indicate that even marginal financial support from WIC is directly associated with improved diet quality among recipients; this highlights that supplemental programs like WIC not only improve measures of health by providing necessary diet quantity (calories) but also by increasing diet quality (vitamins, minerals, macronutrients, fiber, etc.) (Leung et al., 2022).
Specific studies have explored the link between WIC participation and improvements in maternal and infant health outcomes and ultimately determined that dietary improvements through WIC significantly reduced the risks associated with poor prenatal nutrition, such as low birth weight and premature births, particularly among low-income Hispanic mothers (Gross et al., 2019). Changes in the WIC food packages often reflect positive shifts in the consumption of health-promoting food groups. A study conducted by Oberle et al. showed that, while overall diet quality did not change as a result of WIC changes in 2009, the overall consumption of nutritious food groups like whole grains significantly increased (Oberle et al., 2020).
Recent Legislative Advocacy
Both recent enhancements to WIC and the ongoing commitment expressed by Secretary Vilsack at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health are commendable. Efforts like these are pivotal in increasing nutrition security and equity for all Americans. As we continue to advocate for these essential programs, it is crucial to build on this momentum, ensuring that every family has the resources they need to thrive.
In April 2024, USDA published a final rule revising the WIC food packages to “provide WIC participants with a wider variety of foods that align with the latest nutritional science; provide WIC state agencies with greater flexibility to prescribe and tailor food packages that accommodate participants’ special dietary needs and personal and cultural food preferences; and address key nutritional needs to support healthy dietary patterns.” Some of the changes to the WIC food package include:
- Increased cash value benefit per month for fruits and vegetables
- Reduced juice allowance per participant, and added option to substitute juice for a $3 CVV
- Reduced maximum allowance of milk, reduced sugar limit for yogurt, require authorization for lactose-free milk, among other changes to the dairy category
- Reduced quantities of infant cereal, fruit, vegetables, and meat
- Reduce the maximum allowance of whole grains for children and increase the allowance for pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding participants
- Require 75% of breakfast cereals on state-authorized list to meet whole grain criteria
- Addition of canned fish to packages for children, pregnant and postpartum participants
- Require state agencies to include canned legumes in addition to dry
- Require authorization of legumes or peanut butter as a substitute for eggs
These changes are intended to allow for more flexibility in food choices to accommodate personal and cultural preferences, and food intolerances while continuing to support improved nutrition for participants.
Conclusion
WIC serves as a beacon of support for vulnerable populations. This program addresses both acute and long-term nutritional needs and helps to prevent non-communicable diseases throughout the lifespan. Investing in WIC means investing in the overall health and future of our nation’s next generation. This program helps to close the gap in health access and equity and improve countless metrics of public health. The success and adaptability of WIC demonstrate effective public health interventions and ultimately serve to underscore the vital importance of nutrition throughout the lifecycle.
References
- Gross, R. S., et al. (2019). Food Insecurity During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding by Low-Income Hispanic Mothers. Pediatrics.
- Oberle, M. M., et al. (2020). Impact of the 2009 WIC Food Package Changes on Maternal Dietary Quality. Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition.
- Oliveira, V., & Frazão, E. (2022). Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- USDA (2022). Official reports and press releases.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2024, April 9). Biden-Harris Administration announces finalized science-driven updates to foods provided through WIC.
— Written by Oliver Gonzalez-Yoakum, Edited by Jen Cadenhead and Gitit Bachiry
Published Friday, May 24, 2024
