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USDA Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): A New Look at Key Questions 10 Years After USDA Added Whole-Grain Bread to WIC Food Packages in 2009

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  • Stewart, Hayden
  • Hyman, Jeffrey
  • McLaughlin, Patrick W.
  • Dong, Diansheng

Abstract

Given that most Americans do not consume enough whole grains to satisfy Federal dietary recommendations, in 2009, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) altered its Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) by adding 100-percent whole-wheat bread (and other whole-grain options like brown rice) to food packages for children and pregnant or breastfeeding women. Published research suggests that participant diet quality has likely improved, but study results are mixed. Other research has explored the availability and cost of whole-grain products in the WIC-allowed, 1-pound (16-ounce) package size at retail stores. In 2014, USDA asked the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) to convene a committee of experts to conduct an independent, comprehensive scientific review of WIC food packages and recommend cost-neutral changes in line with the nutritional status and food and nutrition needs of the WIC-eligible population. In 2017, that committee recommended a number of changes to participants’ food assistance benefits. These include offering bread and other whole-grain products in more standard package sizes. Concurrent to NASEM’s review of the WIC food package, the Agricultural Act of 2014 required the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to expand to include infants and toddlers from birth to 2 years, as well as women who are pregnant, beginning with the 2020 edition. USDA will consider changes to the WIC food packages once this work is complete. In this study, we use a combination of store- and household-level purchase data to revisit some key questions about WIC participants’ whole-grain benefits. We focus on bread in a case study of the products that may be purchased with these benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Stewart, Hayden & Hyman, Jeffrey & McLaughlin, Patrick W. & Dong, Diansheng, 2019. "USDA Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): A New Look at Key Questions 10 Years After USDA Added Whole-Grain Bread to WIC Food Packages in 2009," Economic Research Report 335303, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:uersrr:335303
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.335303
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Todd, Jessica E. & Scharadin, Benjamin, 2016. "Where Households Get Food in a Typical Week: Findings From USDA's FoodAPS," Economic Information Bulletin 242450, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    2. Ver Ploeg, Michele & Mancino, Lisa & Todd, Jessica E. & Clay, Dawn Marie & Scharadin, Benjamin, 2015. "Where Do Americans Usually Shop for Food and How Do They Travel To Get There? Initial Findings from the National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey," Economic Information Bulletin 262116, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    3. Gleason, Stacy & Pooler, Jennifer, 2011. "The Effects of Changes in WIC Food Packages on Redemptions," Contractor and Cooperator Reports 312391, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    4. Elina T Page & Elizabeth Larimore & John A Kirlin & Mark Denbaly, 2019. "The National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey: Innovations and Research Insights," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 41(2), pages 215-234, June.
    5. Muth, Mary K. & Sweitzer, Megan & Brown, Derick & Capogrossi, Kristen & Karns, Shawn A. & Levin, David & Okrent, Abigail & Siegel, Peter & Zhen, Chen, 2016. "Understanding IRI Household-Based and Store-Based Scanner Data," Technical Bulletins 234905, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    6. Dong, Diansheng & Stewart, Hayden & Frazão, Elizabeth & Carlson, Andrea & Hyman, Jeffrey, 2016. "WIC Household Food Purchases Using WIC Benefits or Paying Out of Pocket: A Case Study of Cold Cereal Purchases," Economic Research Report 262197, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    7. Martinez, Stephen W. & Levin, David, 2017. "An Assessment of Product Turnover in the U.S. Food Industry and Effects on Nutrient Content," Economic Information Bulletin 283706, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
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    Cited by:

    1. Saitone, Tina L & Li, Xuemei & McLaughlin, Patrick W & Sexton, Richard J, 2021. "Cost Implications of Participant Product Selection in USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)," Economic Research Report 327184, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.

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