Department of Health Applauds USDA Updates to WIC Food Packages

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Hinton News) – The West Virginia Department of Health Office of Nutrition Services acknowledges the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) release of significant updates to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food packages. “The USDA release of the final rule updating WIC food packages for the first time since 2009 marks a historic moment in WIC’s 50th year and great progress in the evolution of the first food as medicine program,” said Heidi Staats, Director of the Office of Nutrition Services. “These updates, rooted in independent, science-based research, reinforce WIC’s 50- year legacy of promoting positive maternal and child health outcomes for thousands of participants statewide.”

As outlined in the National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, USDA’s final rule incorporates several key enhancements to better align with the evidenced-based Dietary Guidelines for Americans and independent recommendations from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine:

● Culturally Appropriate Options Increased: The updated WIC food packages now offer a more comprehensive list of culturally appropriate food options, empowering participants to make choices that align with their cultural preferences and dietary needs.
● More Choice and Flexibility: Participants will have increased choice and flexibility in selecting foods that best suit their preferences and nutrition requirements. The introduction of smaller package sizes and expanded substitution patterns enhances the shopping experience for WIC families.
● Expanded Cash Value Benefit (CVB) Made Permanent: The enhanced Cash Value Benefit, which has helped participants purchase more fruits and vegetables in recent years, is now a permanent fixture of the WIC program. This development comes at a critical time as rising food costs underscore the importance of increasing access to healthy foods.

The USDA’s final rule reflects a collaborative effort to strengthen the WIC program and support the diverse needs of participants. These updates underscore the program’s longstanding commitment to providing healthy foods, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support to families.

“In a time of rising food insecurity and high food costs, increasing participants’ purchasing power for healthy foods is critical,” Staats added. “The Office of Nutrition Services will work diligently to implement the more complex flexibilities of the WIC food package final rule within the two year regulatory timeline. However, families can immediately access the enhanced Cash Value Benefit to purchase fresh, canned or frozen fruits and vegetables.”

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