What are the WIC food packages?
The WIC food packages provide supplemental foods designed to address the specific nutritional needs of income-eligible pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum individuals, infants, and children up to five years of age who are at nutritional risk.
WIC participants receive a monthly benefit from one of seven science-based food packages, according to their life stage nutritional needs. Participants then use their WIC electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card to buy the food and beverages in their package.
USDA periodically updates the WIC food packages to reflect current nutrition science.
In 2024, USDA announced final changes to the WIC food packages to align with the latest Dietary Guidelines and reflect recommendations from NASEM.
USDA will support WIC state agencies and industry partners in implementing the final changes to the WIC food packages through webinars and ongoing technical assistance including questions and answers.
Learn more about what's in each WIC food package for women, infants, and children.
USDA has outlined the regulatory requirements for WIC-eligible foods and provided information for manufacturers.
How do the final changes in the WIC food packages compare to the proposed changes?
- Fruits and Vegetables
Summary of Proposed Revisions Summary of Final Revisions Based on Public Comment Increase the cash-value benefit (CVB) base monthly amount for child, pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum participants:
Current Regulatory Amounts:
- Children $9
- Pregnant, postpartum, breastfeeding $11
Proposed Changes:
- Children $24
- Pregnant, postpartum $43
- Breastfeeding $47
Finalize as proposed to provide the CVB in the following base monthly amounts, adjusted annually for inflation:
- Children $24
- Pregnant, postpartum $43
- Breastfeeding $47
Note: USDA adjusts CVB amounts annually for inflation in accordance with WIC regulations.
CVB levels at the time of rule implementation due to inflation (for FY 2024) will continue at levels states are providing through appropriations language, and will be:
- Children $26
- Pregnant, postpartum $47
- Breastfeeding $52
Require WIC state agencies to authorize at least one other form of fruits and vegetables (frozen, canned, or dried) in addition to fresh. Finalize as proposed. Require vendors to stock at least three varieties of vegetables, an increase from two different vegetable varieties currently required. Finalize as proposed. Expand what can be purchased with the CVV to include fresh herbs and allow larger package sizes. Finalize as proposed. - Juice
Summary of Proposed Revisions Summary of Final Revisions Based on Public Comment Reduce the maximum monthly allowances of juice as follows:
- Children: 128 to 64 oz.
- Pregnant and breastfeeding: 144 to 64 oz.
- Postpartum: 96 to zero oz.
Reduce juice amounts but all child and adult participants receive 64 fluid ounces.
- Children: 128 to 64 oz.
- Pregnant and breastfeeding: 144 to 64 oz.
- Postpartum: 96 to 64 oz.
Allow substitution of juice for a $3 CVV. Finalize as proposed. - Milk and Milk Substitutions
Summary of Proposed Revisions Summary of Final Revisions Based on Public Comment Reduce the maximum monthly allowances of milk as follows:
- Children 12 - 23 months: 16 to 12 qts.
- Children 2 - 4 years: 16 to 14 qts.
- Pregnant/partially breastfeeding: 22 to 16 qts.
- Fully breastfeeding: 24 to 16 qts.
Finalize as proposed. Require authorization of lactose-free milk, currently a state agency option. Finalize as proposed. (a) Permit only unflavored milk and (b) reduce total sugars allowed in yogurt from 40 to 30 grams per 8 ounces; and, add a limit for total sugars in plant-based milk substitutions of 12 grams per 8 ounces. a. Finalize as proposed.
b. Modify the provision to establish an added sugars limit for yogurt of ≤ 16 grams per 8 ounces; and an added sugars limit for plant-based milk alternatives of ≤ 10 grams per 8 ounces.
Add a (a) calcium specification for tofu of 200 milligrams per 100 grams; and (b) a vitamin D specification for yogurt of 100 IU (2.5 micrograms) per 8 ounces (1 cup). a. Modify the provision to add a minimum calcium specification of 100 milligrams per 100 grams of tofu.
b. Add a minimum vitamin D specification of 106 IU (2.67 micrograms) per 8 oz of yogurt and extend the implementation timeline to 36 months.
Increase yogurt substitution amounts from 1 quart of yogurt for 1 quart of milk to allow up to 2 quarts of yogurt for 2 quarts of milk. Finalize as proposed. Add soy-based yogurts and soy-based cheeses as substitution options for milk. Finalize as proposed and allow plant-based yogurts and plant-based cheeses (not just soy-based milk substitution options). Update the FDA standard of identity citations for yogurt. Finalize as proposed. Allow yogurts other than whole fat (i.e., reduced fat) to be issued to 1-year-old children without restriction. Finalize as proposed. Remove cheese as a separate food category in the fully breastfeeding food package; cheese remains a substitution option for milk. Finalize as proposed. - Infant Foods
Summary of Proposed Revisions Summary of Final Revisions Based on Public Comment Reduce infant cereal, infant fruits and vegetables, and infant meat as follows:
- Infant cereal – 24 to 16 ounces for fully breastfed infants, 24 to 8 ounces for partially breastfed and formula fed infants.
- Infant fruits/vegetables – 256 to 128 ounces for fully breastfed infants, consistent with the 128 ounces issued to partially breastfed or formula fed infants.
- Infant meats – 77.5 to 40 ounces for fully breastfed infants; infant meats not issued to partially breastfed or formula fed infants.
Finalize as proposed. Increase CVV substitution amounts for infant fruits and vegetables*, allow forms other than fresh, and lower the minimum age for infants to receive a CVV from 9 to 6 months.
* The CVV substitution allows half (64 ounces) or all (128 ounces) of jarred infant fruits and vegetables to be substituted with a $10 or $20 CVV, respectively, for all food packages for infants ages 6 through 11 months
Finalize as proposed. Prohibit added fats in infant foods. Proposed provision is dropped. No change to current program rules which allows added fats in infant foods. - Add Infant Formula Flexibilities and Create a Separate Food Package for Partially (Mostly) Breastfeeding Participants
Summary of Proposed Revisions Summary of Final Revisions Based on Public Comment Increase formula amounts in the first month for partially (mostly) breastfed infants from 104 fl. oz. to up to 364 fl. oz. Finalize as proposed. Allow all prescribed infant formula quantities to be considered “up to” amounts. Finalize as proposed. Create a separate and enhanced food package for partially breastfeeding participants rather than issuing the same package provided to pregnant participants. Finalize as proposed. - Breakfast Cereals
Summary of Proposed Revisions Summary of Final Revisions Based on Public Comment Change whole grain criteria for breakfast cereals to require “whole grain” as the first ingredient. Finalize as proposed. Require 100 percent of breakfast cereals on a state agency authorized product list meet whole grain criteria. Require 75 percent of breakfast cereals on a state agency authorized product list meet whole grain criteria. No change to sugar limits for breakfast cereal - must contain ≤ 21.2 grams total sugar per 100 grams (≤ 6 g per 1 oz.). Replace the total sugars limit for breakfast cereal with an added sugars limit of ≤ 21.2 grams per 100 grams (≤ 6 g per 1 oz.). - Whole Wheat Bread, Whole Grain Bread, and Whole Grain Options
Summary of Proposed Revisions Summary of Final Revisions Based on Public Comment Reduce maximum monthly allowance of whole wheat/whole grain bread and whole grains in the child food packages from 32 to 24 ounces; and increase amounts in the pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding food packages from 16 to 48 ounces. Finalize as proposed. Whole grain breads must contain at least at 50 percent whole grains, rather than having a whole grain as the primary ingredient by weight and meeting the FDA health claim labeling requirement as a “whole grain food with moderate fat content”. Finalize as proposed. Expand whole grain options to include quinoa; wild rice; millet; triticale; amaranth; kamut; sorghum; wheat berries; tortillas made with folic acid-fortified corn masa flour; corn meal (including blue); teff; buckwheat; and whole wheat bread products (i.e., pita, English muffins, bagels, and naan). Finalize as proposed and allow for additional whole grain options that meet nutrient specifications. - Canned Fish
Summary of Proposed Revisions Summary of Final Revisions Based on Public Comment Add 5 ounces of canned fish to food packages for children (2 through 4 years) and specify varieties as salmon, sardines, and Atlantic mackerel. Add 6 ounces canned fish to food packages for all children (1 through 4 years) and allow children to obtain canned light tuna and chub mackerel along with salmon, sardines, and Atlantic mackerel. Add 10 ounces of canned fish to food packages for pregnant and postpartum participants and 15 ounces for partially breastfeeding participants; and revise amounts for fully breastfeeding participants from 30 to 20 ounces. Finalize as proposed. - Legumes and Eggs
Summary of Proposed Revisions Summary of Final Revisions Based on Public Comment Require WIC state agencies to authorize both dried and canned legumes, instead of canned being an option. Finalize as proposed. Require authorization of legumes and peanut butter as substitutes for eggs (instead of just peanut butter for eggs) and allow WIC state agencies to choose to authorize tofu as well as nut and seed butters as a substitute for eggs. Finalize as proposed. Requested comment on the option to allow additional nut and seed butters. Implement a provision to allow WIC state agencies the option to authorize nut and seed butters as a substitute for peanut butter. - Maximum Monthly Allowances
Summary of Proposed Revisions Summary of Final Revisions Based on Public Comment Allow WIC state agencies to authorize a greater variety of package sizes to increase variety and choice, while still providing participants with package sizes that ensure they can receive the full benefit amount (i.e., at least one package size, or a combination of sizes, must add up to the full MMA). Finalize as proposed.