| Federal | Dangling quart: after substitution options, a quart of milk remained, creating a stocking challenge for vendors | Yogurt substitution option in place of the “dangling quart”; states are permitted to authorize purchase of quart sizes of milk (USDA/FNS, 2014a) |
| Container size: change in sizes of peanut butter from 18 to 16 ounces, and in some juices from 64 to 59 ounces | Permission for state authorization of different sizes as approved by USDA-FNSa (USDA/FNS, 2016a) |
| CVV: A new food instrument based on a fixed cash value | Permission for “split tender” so that participants can cover any overage with cash (USDA/FNS, 2014a) |
| Federal/State | CVV: A new food instrument based on a cash value; difficult for participants to select an amount of produce that exactly matched the value | Education to staff, participants, and vendors |
| State agency | CVV in lieu of jarred infant food vegetables and fruits (currently fresh only) for infants 9 to 11 months of age; difficult if states offer canned, frozen, or dried vegetables and fruits for other participants | No resolution; some states have not implemented the option because of Management Information System limitations |
| EBT: requires development of a database for WIC-approved foods | Established strategies by early EBT adopters, a model for later adopters; development of a national UPC database is required for state use (P.L. 111-296, Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010) |
| Cost containment: balancing with diversity and availability of foods | Not fully resolved: rebates contain costs, but limit program ability to support breastfeeding; cost-containment may limit vendors, brands, sizes, forms, or prices (e.g. “least expensive brand”b requirements) |
| Container size: change in sizes of peanut butter from 18 to 16 ounces, and in some juices from 64 to 59 ounces and in some juices from 64 to 59 ounces | Permission for state authorization of different sizes as approved by USDA-FNS |
| Local agency | Introduction of new foods or changes to foods | Staff and participant education |
| Vendor | Requirement in the Final Rule to stock at least two different fruits and two different vegetables | Vendors' choice of less perishable options or canned/frozen varieties if the state authorizes canned, frozen, or dried options (USDA/FNS, 2015a) |
| Stocking the specific size; maintaining freshness (Gleason et al., 2011) | Higher prices for WIC foods (Tisone et al., 2014; USDA/ERS, 2014a) |
| Difficulty finding distributors and suppliers for specific food items (Andreyeva et al., 2011; Gittelsohn et al., 2012) | ND |
| Manufacturer | Specific size or product with the WIC food specification not available | At higher cost, modified production streams to manufacture the required product; or prohibitive cost so the product is not manufacturedc |
