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Resource Types: Research


Final Results of the Maryland WIC Food for Life Program

This study evaluated the Maryland WIC Food for Life Program, a nutrition education intervention to improve healthy behaviors. Post Intervention, participants in the intervention group consumed a smaller percentage of calories from fat, more fruits and vegetables, and more fiber. There was also a dose-response relationship between the number of nutrition education sessions attended and the magnitude of change from baseline.


Culturally Relevant Nutrition Education Improves Dietary Quality Among WIC-Eligible Vietnamese Immigrants

The objective of the study was to provide culturally appropriate nutrition education to improve the diets of Vietnamese women. Bicultural, bilingual Vietnamese-American nutrition education assistants taught five; to seven lessons in the Vietnamese language, using nutrition education materials written in Vietnamese. Over time, the dietary nutrient density of calcium, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and potassium significantly improved in the intervention group, compared with the control group.


WIC and the Price of Infant Formula

The authors presented an economic model of a national infant formula market. Their research showed that the behavior of paying customers, manufacturers, and retail stores determined the value of local sole-source contracts to manufacturers. In turn, this value motivated manufacturers to acquire sole-source contracts and make rebate payments that contained the taxpayer cost of providing infant formula to WIC Program participants.


The Infant Formula Market: Consequences of a Change in the WIC Contract Brand

In this study, the researchers analyzed 2004-09 Nielsen scanner-based retail sales data from more than 7,000 stores in 30 states, to examine the effect of winning a WIC sole-source contract on infant formula manufacturers ; market share in supermarkets. According to the findings, the manufacturer holding the WIC contract brand accounted for the vast majority (84%) of all formula sold by the top three manufacturers. The impact of a switch in the manufacturer that held the WIC contract was considerable.


Rising Infant Formula Costs to the WIC Program: Recent Trends in Rebates and Wholesale Prices

WIC provides participating infants with free infant formula. This study estimated that between 57% and 68% of all infant formula sold in the US was purchased through WIC, based on 2004;06 data, and that formula costs to the WIC Program have increased. After adjusting for inflation, net wholesale prices increased by an average 73% for 26 fluid ounces of reconstituted formula between states ; contracts in effect in December 2008 and the states; previous contracts. As a result of the increase in real net wholesale prices, WIC paid about $127 million more for infant formula over the course of a year.


Recent Trends and Economic Issues in the WIC Infant Formula Rebate Program

This report examines trends in the factors affecting WIC infant formula costs from January 1998 to January 2006. Data on infant formula manufacturers ; bids for rebate contracts, formula manufacturers ; wholesale price lists, and scanner-based retail sales data from supermarkets were used in the study. Results suggested that retail markup accounted for most of the cost to WIC of infant formula in most states. However, both retail markup and net wholesale price had increased over time. The recent increase in these components coincided with the introduction of higher-priced supplemented infant formulas. The authors concluded that conditions might change after the market adjusts to these new formulas.


Food Assistance: FNS Could Take Additional Steps to Contain WIC Infant Formula Costs

This report provided information on (1) factors that influence program spending on infant formula; (2) how the level of savings resulting from infant formula cost containment has changed and the implications of these changes for the number of participants served; and (3) steps federal and state agencies have taken to contain state spending on infant formula.