Nutrition Hotline
WIC Program Updates
By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD
QUESTION: How do the recent changes to the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program affect vegans?
R.A., via email
ANSWER: Many of the changes1 will make it easier to follow a vegan diet while participating in the WIC program, as well as promoting more plant-based options for all participants. The Vegetarian Resource Group has been advocating for changes like these for many years.2 These changes include:
- WIC state agencies have the option to authorize plant-based milk alternatives, plant-based cheeses, and plant-based yogurts that meet nutrition requirements to be used in place of dairy milk. Previously, USDA had allowed "soy-based beverages"; now "plant-based milk alternatives" are allowed. Medical documentation is not needed to make this substitution.
- Tofu that has a specified amount of calcium may be substituted for dairy milk, at the rate of 1 pound of tofu per 1 quart of dairy milk, up to the maximum monthly allowance.
- WIC state agencies are required to allow peanut butter and legumes to substitute for eggs and are allowed to permit substitution of tofu for eggs. Previously, WIC regulations did not allow substitutions for eggs.
- Canned beans are required to be offered in addition to dried beans.
- WIC state agencies can authorize nut and seed butters as a substitute for peanut butter.
- Whole grain options are expanded to include buckwheat, cornmeal, millet, quinoa, teff, tortillas made with folic acid-fortified corn masa flour, wheat berries, wild rice, and other whole grains. In addition, WIC state agencies are allowed to authorize other whole grains that are not on the approved list but that meet WIC standards.
- The fruit and vegetable benefit is permanently increased so that the dollar amount of vouchers to purchase fruits and vegetables increases up to four-fold.
The greatest benefit to vegans is that agencies can allow plant-based milks, cheeses, and yogurts to completely replace dairy milk. The USDA states, "When deciding which types and brands of WIC foods to authorize, including when authorizing plant-based milk alternatives, WIC state agencies should consider factors such as package size, food prices, product availability across their jurisdiction, and program management costs along with participant preference and demand."1 This suggests that participant demand can help to influence state decisions as to which products to authorize.
REFERENCES:
1 Food and Nutrition Service, USDA. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): Revisions in the WIC Food Packages. 89 FR 28488: 28488-28567. federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/18/2024-07
437/special-supplemental-nutrition-program-for-women-infants-and-children-wic-revisions-in-the-wic-food April 18, 2024.
2 Mangels R. WIC program updates: Do they reflect changes supported by VRG? vrg.org/blog/2024/05/24/wic-program-updates-do-they-reflect-changes-supported-by-vrg May 24, 2024.
