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Release No. FNS 0002-06

Contact: Ed Loyd (202) 720-4623
Susan Acker (703) 305-2286

USDA Proposes Change to WIC Food Packages

WASHINGTON, August 4, 2006—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) today announced proposed changes to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) food packages that reflect recommendations made by the National Academies of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine (IOM). 

The current WIC food packages were designed to supplement participant’s diets with foods rich in five nutrients—vitamins A and C, calcium, iron and protein—because those nutrients were lacking in the diets of the WIC target population when the program first began in 1974. 

The proposed changes largely follow recommendations made by the IOM in the final report of its review of the WIC food packages, WIC Food Packages: Time for a Change, as well as the latest nutrition science and the Dietary Guidelines. Under the proposal, the food packages would be revised to add new foods such as fruits and vegetables and whole grains, while amounts of some current foods would be modified. 

WIC provides pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants and children up to age five with nutritious supplemental foods. The program also provides nutrition education and referrals to health and social services. About eight million participants receive WIC benefits each month. Federal food costs for the program were $3.6 billion in fiscal year 2005.

Notice of this proposed rule will be published in the August 7, 2006 Federal Register. A copy of the proposed rule can be found at www.fns.usda.gov/wic/. Consideration will be given to comments received up to and through 90 days from the publication date. 

Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

  • Mail: Send comments to Patricia N. Daniels, Director, Supplemental Food Programs Division, Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 528, Alexandria, Virginia 22302 

  • Web site: Go to http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments through the link at the Supplemental Food Programs Division Web site.

  • E-mail: Send comments to WICHQ-SFPD@fns.usda.gov. Include “Docket ID Number 0584-AD77, WIC Food Packages Rule,” in the subject line of the message.

  • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.

All written comments submitted in response to this proposed rule will be included in the record and will be made available to the public. All written submissions will be available for public inspection at the address above during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET) Monday through Friday. 

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