This final rule amends regulations governing funding and funds allocation procedures for the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) in order to simplify and update the funding process in anticipation of a fully funded program.
Recently, cultural food preferences among participants in the WIC program have received considerable attention. There has been concern expressed that some WIC participants may not take full advantage of program benefits (e.g., the food packages and nutrition education) for cultural reasons. In this Notice, the Department is soliciting public comments regarding the issues surrounding the accommodation of cultural food preferences in the WIC program.
This rule proposes revisions to funding and funds allocation procedures for the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) in order to simplify and update the funding process in anticipation of a fully funded program.
The 1994 study of WIC program and participant characteristics (PC94), like the 1992 study (PC92), is substantially different from earlier efforts to collect data on WIC participants. PC94 employs the prototype reporting system which was developed by FNS for the 1992 study and which routinizes the collection of participant information from state WIC agencies.
This final rule amends regulations governing the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children to comply with the mandates of sections 123 and 213 of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 1989 enacted on Nov. 10, 1989.