The U.S. Food and Nutrition Service has announced updates to goods included in packages for certain SNAP recipients, following recommendations from scientists. The changes apply to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which provides support to low- or no-income women who are pregnant or postpartum and their children at nutritional risk. The program offers nutritious foods, counseling on healthy eating, breastfeeding support, and other healthcare services. Many SNAP recipients who meet the criteria are eligible for WIC, and the program serves around 6.6 million mothers, infants, and young children.
The updates to the WIC food packages focus on supporting fruit and vegetable consumption by increasing the amount provided and the variety available for purchase. Recipients are expected to receive four times as much as they would normally, providing a significant boost to the fruit and vegetable benefit. The changes include an expansion of wholegrain options, updates to the dairy category, canned fish, canned beans, and more flexibility in the amount of breastfeeding formula. States have up to two years to implement the changes, as WIC is funded by the federal government but administered at the state or county level.
The changes were made possible by securing $1 billion in funding by the Biden-Harris administration for the 2024 fiscal year. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized the commitment to ensuring that moms, babies, and young children thrive through WIC by implementing participant-centered changes that reflect the latest nutrition science. Food and Nutrition Service Administrator Cindy Long echoed this sentiment, noting that the improvements to food packages have the potential to make positive, lifelong impacts on health and well-being for the millions of participants in the program.
Newsweek is dedicated to challenging conventional wisdom and seeking connections in the pursuit of common ground. By highlighting significant updates to programs like WIC that support vulnerable populations, Newsweek aims to bring attention to initiatives that promote health and well-being for women, infants, and children in need. The announcement of updates to the food packages for WIC recipients underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring access to nutritious foods and essential healthcare services for those who are most at risk and in need of support.
