Highlights of the New WIC Allowable Foods and Food Packages

1
Highlights of the New WIC Allowable Foods and
Food Packages

• Elizabeth Liz Bruns, R.D., L.D.
• Texas Department of State Health Services, WIC
  Program,
• Austin, Texas

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Why the Changes?

• Align WIC food issuance with USDA/HHS Dietary
  Guidelines for Americans and AAP policy
  statements.
• Promote and support breastfeeding
• Accommodate cultural food preferences and provide
  variety

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Breastfeeding Terminology

• Exclusively Breastfeeding (EBF)
• 100 BF infant receives 0 formula
• Mother receives Exclusively Breastfeeding FP
• Mostly Breastfeeding (MBF)
• Primarily BF infant receives
• Mother receives PG/Mostly Breastfeeding FP
• Mother eligible for infants first year

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Breastfeeding Terminology

• Some Breastfeeding (SBF)
• Primarily FF infant receives may BF 1-2-more X/day
• Mother receives PP/Some Breastfeeding FP
• Defn of BF woman No change, BF 1X/day
• Fully Formula-Feeding (FFF)
• 100 FF infant receives full pkg formula
• Mother receives PP/Some Breastfeeding FP
• Mother eligible for infants first 6 months

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New Food Packages I-IV

• I Infants, 0-5 months
• II Infants, 6-11 months
• III Special Needs
• Infants, exempt formula
• Women children, formula
• IV Children

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New Food Packages V-VII

• V Pregnant and Mostly Breastfeeding
• VI Postpartum and Some Breastfeeding
• VII Exclusively Breastfeeding, Pregnant
  w/multiples, Mostly BF multiples
• Note EBF multiples receive 1.5X food amts of
  EBF (FP VII)

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Milk

• Lowfat milk is the default milk for all
  participants 2 years of age or older
• For 1-2 year olds, whole milk only
• Whole milk for participants 2 years of age or
  older by prescription only

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Milk and Soy Milk

• Decrease in quantity of milk issued
• Least expensive brand (LEB) continues
• Soy Milk is now an option!
• Same nutrient requirements as cows milk
• Prescription required to issue soy to children

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Cheese

• Maximum quantity is 1lb for children, PG and PP
• 2lb for exclusively breastfeeding (EBF)
• 2.5lb for EBF multiples
• Least expensive brand continues
• For lactose intolerance, package w/ more cheese
  less milk available w/Rx

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Tofu

• Prescription required to issue to children
• Calcium-set w/ no added sugar, fat, /or sodium
• Purchased in 1lb packages
• Least expensive brand applies
• 1lb tofu 1 quart milk equivalent/cheese
  substitution

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Cereal

• At least ½ approved cereals must be whole grain
• Maximum 36 oz issuance
• 54 oz for EBF multiples
• 18 and 36 oz boxes only

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Whole Grains

• Whole wheat whole grain bread
• Whole wheat corn tortillas
• Brown rice
• Oatmeal (iron fortification not required)
• Least expensive brand applies
• 2lb for children
• 1lb for pregnant, EBF MBF women
• 1.5lb bread for EBF multiples
• No whole grains for PP/SBF women

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Juice

• Juice for infants is eliminated
• Juice quantity decreases for all categories
• Calcium-fortified is allowed!
• Least expensive brand continues

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Juice Amounts

• Children
• 2-64 oz plastic bottles or
• 2-16 oz frozen containers
• PG, MBF EBF Women
• 3-48 oz cans/plastic bottles or
• 3-12 oz frozen containers
• EBF Multiples Women
• 3-64 oz plastic bottles plus
• 6 oz frozen container
• PP SBF Women
• 2-48 oz cans/plastic bottles or
• 3-12 oz frozen containers

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Fruits and Vegetables

• Fresh, fresh-cut, frozen allowed
• Frozen beans allowed (e.g. edamame, lima,
  black-eyed peas, etc.)
• No added sugar, fat or oil
• No white potatoes
• No herbs or spices, sauces, combinations

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Cash Value Benefits for Fruits and Veggies

• Cash Value means a fixed dollar amount which can
  be used by a participant to obtain authorized
  fruits and vegetables
• 6 for children
• 8 for PG, MBF SBF/PP women
• 10 for EBF
• 15 for EBF multiples

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Eggs

• 1 dozen for all participants except
• 2 dozen for EBF
• 3 dozen for EBF multiples

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Beans and Peanut Butter

• Children and PP get PB or Beans
• PG, MBF EBF get PB and Beans
• EBF multiples get 3 items
• Choose item(s) at store!

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Canned Fish

• Salmon and tuna
• 5 and 6 oz cans
• 30 oz for EBF (FP VII)
• 45 oz for EBF multiples
• No carrots x as cash value

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Infant Formula

• Formula issuance is based on reconstituted
  quantity, with minimum and maximum amounts
• Participants receiving an exempt formula (FP III)
  must be prescribed a specific amount

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Infant Foods (FP II III)

• For all infants 6-11 months of age
• Juice is eliminated
• 24 oz iron-fortified infant cereal
• For formula-fed mostly breast-fed
• 128 oz infant food fruits and veggies (32-4oz)
• For exclusively breast-fed
• 256 oz infant food fruits and veggies (64-4oz)
• 77.5 oz infant food meat (31-2.5oz)

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Food Package I

• Infants, 0-5 months age
• Package is subdivided into
• Exclusively breastfed
• Mostly breastfed
• Fully formula-fed/ Some BF
• Months of age, varies

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Food Package I

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Food Package II

• Infants, 6-11 months
• Supplemental foods
• Infant cereal
• Infant Food fruits and vegetables
• Infant Food meats for fully breastfed infants
• No juice

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Food Package II
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Food Package III

• For women, infant and child participants who
  have a documented qualifying condition that
  requires the use of a WIC formula (infant
  formula, exempt infant formula, or WIC-eligible
  medical food) because the use of conventional
  foods is precluded, restricted, or inadequate to
  address their special nutritional needs.

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Food Package III

• Food Package III is intended for
• Any woman or child who is on formula
• Any infant on exempt formula
• Supplemental foods are available but must be
  authorized by the participants HCP

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Food Package III
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Food Packages IV, V, VI, VII

• For Non-Infant Participants NOT receiving Food
  Package III
• IV Children, 1-4 years
• V Pregnant and MBF, up to 1 yr PP
• VI Postpartum SBF, up to 6 months PP
• VII EBF, up to 1 yr PP also for Pregnant
  w/ multiples, and MBF multiples
• EBF multiples receive 1.5 times VII

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Food Packages IV, V, VI VII
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Breastfeeding Food Package

• During the first month of life, a WIC baby will
  either be EBF or FFF
• No MBF option
• To receive a MBF food package, a mom can not
  receive more than ½ package of formula for her
  infant

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Test Question 1

• The WIC Foods and Food Packages are changing
  because
• 1. The vendors want to sell different foods.
• 2. WIC participants are tired of the same old
  foods.
• 3. The WIC program is incorporating the Dietary
  Guidelines for Americans and policy statements by
  the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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Test Question 2

• New WIC foods may include
• 1. Tofu
• 2. Soy milk
• 3. Whole wheat bread
• 4. Oranges
• 5. All of the above

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Test Question 3

• Which of the following is not an infant feeding
  option with the new food packages
• 1. Exclusively breastfeeding
• 2. Fully bottle-feeding
• 3. Fully formula-feeding/Some breastfeeding
• 4. Mostly breastfeeding

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Test Question 4

• True or False
• With the new food packages, formula issuance will
  be based on reconstituted volume, not maximum
  volume.
• 1. True
• 2. False

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Contact Information

• Elizabeth Liz Bruns, R.D., L.D.
• Elizabeth.bruns_at_dshs.state.tx.us
• [phone]