Major Changes to WIC Foods
2009 brought healthy, exciting changes to the WIC program!
The New WIC Way brought changes that better meet the needs of WIC mothers, infants and children. Packages and educational messages align with the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and infant feeding practice guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics. It promotes WIC as the premier public health nutrition program with a strong focus on breastfeeding as the normal way to feed babies.
New foods...
- Fruits and vegetables (fresh, frozen, canned)
- 100% whole wheat breads
- Baby foods -- fruits and vegetables for all infants and meat for exclusively breastfed infants
New alternatives...
- Brown rice, soft corn or whole wheat tortillas for whole wheat bread
- Canned beans for dried beans
- Canned salmon for canned tuna
- Soy milk
Different quantities...
- Quantities of milk, eggs, and juice are reduced for women and children.
- Quantities of foods are higher for breastfeeding women and women pregnant with multiples.
- Quantities of infant formula are reduced for breastfed and older infants.
- Quantities of infant formula are different from the current amounts to better match the amounts recommended for babies during their first year of life.
- Cheese has been eliminated for children and most women.
- Combinations of formulas or liquid medical foods and all the regular WIC foods are allowed for women and children with qualifying medical conditions, and the quantities of foods are increased.
- Several special formulas covered by BadgerCare Plus (when prescribed for treatment of diseases or medical conditions) are eliminated.