This study assessed the impact of the 2009 changes to the WIC food packages on the perceived sales, product selection, and stocking habits of small WIC-authorized food stores. Results showed that regardless of the type or frequency of supply acquisition, perceived increases in sales provided some evidence of the potential sustainability of the new food packages.
This report provided improper payment estimates for undercharges and overcharges in the WIC Program for fiscal year 2010. In fiscal year 2010, WIC improper payments amounted to 1.1% of total WIC food outlays, compared with an improper payment rate of 1.2% in 2009.
This study compared products stocked before and after the implementation of the revised WIC food packages in WIC-authorized and non-WIC-authorized stores. After implementation, WIC-authorized stores improved their inventory of healthier foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, lower-fat milk, whole-grain bread, and brown rice.
This study evaluated the implementation of the Interim Rule for the new WIC food packages, investigating the following questions: (1) How did state agencies respond to optional provisions of the Interim Rule? (2) What specific foods did state agencies include on their food list when implementing the revised food packages? (3) What changes were observed on WIC food lists, before and after implementation of the Interim Rule, including food categories that were not directly affected by the Interim Rule? State agencies adopted many, but not all, of the optional provisions of the Interim Rule, and there were high rates of adoption of food substitutes.
This study evaluated the effect of the new WIC food packages on WIC participation; food package choice; and breastfeeding initiation, duration, and intensity. After implementation of the new food packages, more mothers opted for the full breastfeeding and full formula packages. Breastfeeding initiation rates remained approximately the same before and after implementation. And, based on a multivariate analysis after implementation, the change in the likelihood of reaching 4 weeks of breastfeeding duration was negligible in magnitude and statistically insignificant.
The purpose of this analysis was to study the food consumption pattern of preschoolers ages 2 and 3 in the US. The study found that 33% consumed whole milk at least once per day. In addition, 70% consumed vegetables at least once per day, with french fries and other fried potatoes as the most consumed vegetable. A total of 73% consumed fruits at least once per day. Furthermore, 85% consumed a sweetened beverage, dessert, sweet snack, or salty snack at least once per day.
In fiscal 2008, the $4.6 billion of food purchased with vouchers from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) generated $1.3 billion in farm revenue. Because WIC participants would have purchased some of these foods with their own money in the absence of the program, the net addition to farm revenue from WIC was estimated at $331 million. The net increase in full-time-equivalent farm jobs was estimated at 2,640. The researchers used an input-output multiplier model to derive these estimates and assumed that recent revisions in the WIC food packages were implemented in all states in fiscal 2008.
For more than 30 years, the WIC Program has provided foods that supplement the diet of millions of low-income women, infants, and children. The WIC Program has been very successful, particularly in improving nutrient intakes among participants. In early 2004, the Institute of Medicine formed a committee to review the WIC Program current supplemental food packages and determine whether a redesign could help participating families eat a healthier diet. The committees food package recommendations were presented in this report and matched current dietary guidance for infants and young children. The recommendations encouraged consumption of fruits and vegetables and emphasized whole grains, lower saturated fat, and inclusion of foods that appealed to diverse populations.
The purpose of this report was to examine the types and amounts of foods being prescribed within the WIC food package for each category of participants. The report was based on data collected by the biennial WIC Participants and Program Characteristic studies (1998, 2000, and 2002). This report did not provide information on redemption of the food prescriptions or on actual food consumption.
This study examines the degree to which food prices, caseloads, and cost-containment practices influenced costs of state WIC food benefits packages. Because few data existed on the actual food items that WIC participants purchased, the study used a scanner dataset of supermarket transactions and other sources to estimate the average monthly cost of WIC food benefits in several areas.
