Don’t Cut Dairy Benefits for WIC Moms and Children

Dear Dairy Community,

More than 6 million low-income mothers and children, including an estimated 43% of all infants in the U.S., rely on a federal nutrition program known as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, or WIC. The WIC program provides electronic vouchers to mothers to buy specific types of foods and beverages that are high in the kinds of vitamins and nutrients moms and young children need for growth and development at the critical life stages. Dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cheese play a central role in the program, ensuring participants get 13 essential nutrients–including three of the four nutrients of public health concern as noted by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA).

Yet in November, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposed to cut the amount of milk and dairy provided to WIC moms and children. For example, for a pregnant WIC mother with two children under 5 years of age, the proposal would remove the equivalent of up to 3 gallons or more of milk per month, depending on the participant.

This is bad for nutrition outcomes – USDA’s proposal directly conflicts with the latest DGA report, which highlights that nearly 90 percent of Americans do not consume enough dairy to meet dietary recommendations.

This concerns WIC moms – According to a recent IDFA-Morning Consult poll, a staggering three-in-four WIC parents (76%) said they are concerned with the USDA proposal. One-third (35%) say they will need to use non-WIC funds to cover purchases of milk and dairy. Another quarter (26%) of participants say the reduction will make their shopping for milk and dairy products harder.

This is bad for program participation – According to that same IDFA-Morning Consult poll, 20% of WIC parents would choose not to re-enroll in the program should USDA follow through with the cuts to milk and dairy benefits. An additional one-third (34%) were unsure if they would re-enroll in the program following the proposed cuts.

Join IDFA in urging USDA to abandon their proposed cuts to milk and dairy products when they finalize the rule this year. You can do that now by submitting comments to the Federal Register through the IDFA Campaign Center.

Importantly, we ask that you personalize the comments by inserting your information to the top of the comments. Please take action before USDA’s deadline of February 21, 2023.

TAKE ACTION NOW

If you have any questions about IDFA’s advocacy on the WIC food package, please contact our staff experts Michelle Matto, MPH, RDN, and Rob Rosado.

Thank you for your support!