USDA revises food program for women and children

USDA revises food program for women and children
A bar code is swiped at a grocery store in an image courtesy of the USDA. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains will be added to the grocery list of items covered by the U.S. government's Women, Infants and Children program, which helps more than 8 million Americans buy food each year. (Handout/Reuters)WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A popular program that provides foodassistance to low-income women and their children received itsfirst overhaul in more than 30 years Thursday with the additionof fruits, vegetables and whole grains to the list of groceryitems covered by the U.S. government.
The Agriculture Department said the new list reflects thechanging nutritional needs of participants in the Women,Infants and Children food program and will help combat obesity.Created in 1972, the WIC program supplements the diet of 8.5million low-income pregnant women, new mothers and youngchildren annually.
The revised list of foods that can be purchased with WICvouchers is the result of a review that was first announced inAugust 2006. It does not change the value of benefits, about$39 a month, to qualified low-income pregnant women, andchildren up to the age of 5 who are at nutritional risk.
USDA heard from "WIC agencies, from stakeholders and, ofcourse, the participants themselves to revise (WIC) so it doesreflect the latest nutrition, science and dietaryrecommendations for Americans," said Acting AgricultureSecretary Chuck Conner. "We believe this rule will do justthat."
The revised program provides women and children with lesssaturated fat and cholesterol and allows more fiber, fruits andvegetables.
Recipients will be allowed to substitute items -- such asreplacing whole wheat bread with soft corn tortillas, orcanned, frozen and dried fruits and vegetables in place oftheir fresh counterparts -- in order to reflect culturaldifferences and make it easier for people to participate.
The revised WIC program also provides incentives for womento continue breast-feeding by providing less formula topartially breast-fed infants, and giving fruit and vegetablevouchers of $10 to fully breast-feeding women, compared with $8for all other women.
These changes have "the potential to transform not only theeating habits of WIC mothers, infants and young children, butthe eating habits of all Americans," said Douglas Greenaway,executive director with the National WIC Association.
USDA received more than 46,000 comments on the revisions.Most were supportive, USDA said, but criticism came from thedairy, juice and other industries that will be receiving lesssupport.
Key reductions include the amount of eggs WIC recipientscan buy with their vouchers, one dozen a month, down from 2 to2-1/2 dozen. Juice for children ages 1 through 4 years, forexample, would be reduced to 128 fluid ounces from 288, andmilk would be cut to 16 quarts per month from 24 quarts.
"We have no issues at all with what they are trying to do,trying to include some fruits and vegetables. But we werehoping it wouldn't be done at the expense of eggs," said HowardMagwire, a spokesman with the United Egg Producers.
The National Milk Producers Federation said reducing milkand cheese support would deprive many WIC participants of keynutrients, such as calcium and potassium.
USDA, which oversees the state-run programs, said stateshave until August 5, 2009, to implement the changes.
A Washington think tank, the Center on Budget and PolicyPriorities, said in late November that up to half a millionpeople could be denied WIC benefits in the coming year becauseof rising food prices and enrollment that was larger thanexpected.
(Reporting by Christopher Doering; Editing by WalterBagley)