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National WIC Association October 3, 2006

Congressional Briefing More Healthy Choices for WIC Moms & Kids Now! Urge Final Rule by Spring 2007. National WIC Association October 3, 2006. National WIC Association.

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National WIC Association October 3, 2006

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  1. Congressional BriefingMore Healthy Choices for WIC Moms & Kids Now!Urge Final Rule by Spring 2007 National WIC Association October 3, 2006

  2. National WIC Association • NWA represents the staff of 88 State Agencies, 2,200 Local Agencies, 10,000 WIC Clinics and the nutrition and health interests of WIC mothers and children

  3. WIC Participation WIC Serves: • 1 out of 2 infants born in the US • 1 out of 4 children aged 1 through 4 • Over 8 million women, infants, and children/month

  4. What are the Benefits? • Quality nutrition education and services • 7 monthly food packages • Breastfeeding promotion and education • Access to maternal, prenatal, and pediatric health-care & other social services

  5. Who’s Eligible? • Pregnant or postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5 • Income level less than or equal to 185% of the poverty level – for a family of four - $37,000 • Documented nutrition risk • Documented state residency

  6. Income of WIC Participants • Average income is $14,758 • 57 % of participants live at or below the poverty line Graph is based on PC 2004 data.

  7. Current WIC Food Packages • Seven different food packages • Include nutrients that were commonly lacking in the diets of low-income populations • milk, eggs, cheese, peanut butter, dried beans and peas, 100% vitamin C-rich juices, iron-fortified cereals, tuna fish, and carrots, Iron-fortified infant formula and infant cereal

  8. Time for a Change • Since WIC’s inception more than 30 years ago: • Significant demographic changes • New nutrition science emerged • Obesity epidemic a major public health concern • Increased diet-related chronic diseases • Observed changes in the dietary pattern and food supply

  9. NWA’s Proposed Changes • Policy Paper 2000, “WIC Food Prescription Recommendations”: • Include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fiber-rich foods • Reduce the fat content of the overall food packages and in specific food items • Policy Paper 2003 “WIC Culturally Sensitive Food Prescription Recommendations”: • Include foods that address the diverse cultural needs of WIC mothers and children

  10. Science Based Change • In 2003, IOM tasked by USDA to review the WIC food packages based on current scientific information • In 2005, IOM report proposed significant changes to the WIC food packages incorporating NWA recommendations

  11. USDA Proposed Rule • USDA’s proposal to amend the WIC Food Packages was published on August 7 • The proposed changes largely reflect recommendations made by IOM

  12. USDA’s Proposed Changes • Consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 • More fruits and vegetables! • Cash-value voucher: $8 for women & $6 for children • Baby fruits & vegetables for infants 6 months and older

  13. USDA’s Proposed Changes • Emphasis on whole grains • Addition of whole grain cereals, whole grain bread and other whole grain options (e.g., brown rice, soft corn or whole wheat tortillas) • Lower saturated fat and cholesterol • Dairy products and eggs in more appropriate quantities

  14. USDA’s Proposed Changes • Lower saturated fat and cholesterol • Reduce fat content of milk - no more than 2% milk fat for women and children 2 years and older • Reduce eggs - 2 dozen eggs for fully breastfeeding women, 1 dozen eggs for children and women • Reduce cheese - 1 pound of cheese for fully breastfeeding women and 1 pound of cheese as a milk substitute for children and Women

  15. USDA’s Proposed Changes • Appeal to Diverse Populations: • Increase cultural acceptability by adding: • Calcium-set tofu, calcium-and vitamin-D rich soy beverage (“soy milk”) • Different forms of beans and peas (canned or dry) • Canned fish choices (i.e., light tuna, salmon, and sardines)

  16. USDA’s Proposed Changes • Follow infant feeding guidelines of AAP: • Reduce fruit juice for children ages 1-5 to recommended quantities of 4 fl oz/day • Eliminate juice for infants 6 months and older providing fruits/vegetables instead • Delay baby foods e.g., cereals, etc., until after 6 months of age

  17. USDA’s Proposed Changes • Support and promote breastfeeding: • Exclusively breastfeeding mother/infant pairs receive greater quantities and wider varieties of foods, for example: • Twice the amount of baby food fruits & vegetables and baby food meats • More dairy products, eggs, and legumes/peanut butter for BF moms

  18. USDA’s Proposed Changes • Improving Nutritional Content of WIC Food Packages: • Increases nearly all of the priority nutrients • Reduces excessive nutrients, saturated fat and cholesterol

  19. USDA’s Proposed Changes Implementation will: • Supply a reliable source of supplemental nutritious foods • Provide tools to reinforce nutrition education provided by WIC professionals • Help WIC mothers and children establish dietary patterns that promote life-long good nutritional health

  20. Timeline for the Proposed Rule • The comment period ends Nov. 6 • The Department will need several months (?) to review the comments

  21. How Can You Help WIC Moms & Kids? • Send a letter to USDA supporting the proposed rule • Refer to NWA model comments and talking points on www.nwica.org • Urge USDA to publish the final rule spring 2007

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