by Amy Spangler
March 06, 2008

In December 2007, baby gooroo announced the much anticipated and long awaited release of an Interim Rule calling for significant changes (the first in more than 25 years!) in the WIC food packages.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (commonly known as WIC) was established in 1974 and is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service. WIC serves low-income, nutritionally at risk:

• Pregnant women during pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after birth or after pregnancy ends
• Breastfeeding women until the infant is 1 year of age
• Non-breastfeeding postpartum women up to 6 months after the birth of an infant or after pregnancy ends
• Infants up to 1 year of age
• Children up to 5 years of age

WIC has long been criticized for its distribution of infant formula and its low breastfeeding rates. The new packages are designed to strengthen WIC’s breastfeeding promotion efforts and encourage WIC moms to not only initiate and continue to breastfeed but to breastfeed exclusively.

In an effort to discourage early supplementation with infant formula, the Institute of Medicine originally recommended two food packages—one for fully breastfeeding moms and one for fully formula-feeding moms. However, the USDA decided to add a third package in response to public comment that two packages did not adequately address the needs of those mothers who partially breastfeed. The goal of the revised packages is to provide as little formula as possible, along with breastfeeding support, until a mother is able to fully breastfeed.

To further support breastfeeding, the amount of formula and the amount and type of infant foods will vary by infant feeding option. For example, the partially breastfed food package (Food Package I) will contain one-half the amount of formula found in the fully formula-fed package (Food Package III). In addition, maximum formula allowances will be reduced for both partially breastfed and fully formula-fed infants. Additional changes in the proposed food packages for infants include:

• Delay the introduction of complementary foods until infants are 6 months of age
• Add fruits and vegetables to Package II (fully breastfed infants)
• Eliminate juice from infant packages
• Disallow infant formula for fully breastfed babies during the first month after birth in support of exclusive breastfeeding
• Disallow low-iron formula
• Include infant meats in the fully breastfed infant package (Package II)
• Provide exempt infant formulas only in Package III (fully formula-fed)

The new packages for mothers will be tailored to individual needs and likes and will include:

• Whole grains and soy options
• Monthly fruit and vegetable cash-value vouchers of $6 for children, $8 for women, and $10 for exclusively breastfeeding women!
• 18 ounces of peanut butter
• Low-fat milk or milk substitutes (cheese, tofu, soy-based beverages)
• Whole grain cereals
• 30 ounces of canned fish

Effective February 4, 2008, state and local WIC agencies have 18 months to implement the changes.