TABLE 9-10How the Revised Food Packages Address Selected Concerns for Impact on WIC Agencies and Vendors (Criterion 7)

Concerns About Potential Administrative Burden for WIC Staff and Retail VendorsHow the Revised Food Packages Address the Concern
WIC state agencies
The restriction to one can of infant formula in the first month does not allow the CPA/lactation trained staff to assign a food package based on the nutritional needs of the infant.
  • Allow an amount of infant formula up to that suitable for a partially breastfed infant in the first month
Allowing only fresh vegetables and fruits to be purchased with the infant CVV is not compatible with some state EBT systems.
  • Allow the purchase of frozen or canned vegetables and fruits with any CVV
WIC local agencies
With nutrition education that follows the DGA, staff instruct participants to limit intake of juice in favor of whole fruit; this is in conflict with the provision of juice in the food packages.
  • Reduce amounts of juice; offer participant option to substitute a CVV for juice
The FNS Infant Nutrition and Feeding Guide indicates that around 9 months of age most infants are developmentally ready to consume foods of increased texture and consistency.
  • Allow a CVV in place of jarred infant food vegetables and fruits
Additional culturally-suitable options are needed.
  • See “culturally suitable foods” in Table 9-7
Vendorsa
Concern that 16 oz size of bread and 16 oz whole wheat pasta are difficult to obtain.
  • Expand the range of grains to 16 to 24 oz to accommodate more commonly available bread and grain sizes
Vegetable juices are not available in 48 oz sizes.
  • Provide 64 oz of juice in all packages
Substitution options result in the issuance of less available sizes (e.g. the “dangling quart”b of milk).
  • Substitution options for milk that no longer result in a “dangling quart”

NOTES: CPA = competent professional authority; CVV = cash value voucher; DGA = Dietary Guidelines for Americans; EBT = electronic benefit transfer; FNS = USDA's Food and Nutrition Service.

a

The committee did not receive many comments from vendors; however, several comments submitted by other stakeholders relate to vendor administrative burden.

b

In the current food packages, when participants choose a particular set of milk substitutions, a quart of milk may remain. This quart size is generally less available and may also be more expensive.

From: 9, How the Revised Food Packages Meet the Criteria Specified

Cover of Review of WIC Food Packages
Review of WIC Food Packages: Improving Balance and Choice: Final Report.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Food and Nutrition Board; Committee to Review WIC Food Packages.
Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2017 May 1.
Copyright 2017 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

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