The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has finalized changes to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which will allow nearly 7 million low-income women and children to purchase more fruits and vegetables but less dairy. The updates to the program's food packages align with the latest nutrition science, increasing allowances for fruits, vegetables, and seafood, while decreasing the amounts of juice, dairy, and cheese. Additionally, non-dairy options like plant-based and lactose-free milk will be added to the program. The changes have received criticism from dairy promotion groups, but the USDA expects dairy purchases through WIC to rise by as much as $400 million by 2025 due to increased participation. [ebc55899]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has finalized changes to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which will allow nearly 7 million low-income women and children to purchase more fruits and vegetables but less dairy. The updates to the program's food packages align with the latest nutrition science, increasing allowances for fruits, vegetables, and seafood, while decreasing the amounts of juice, dairy, and cheese. Additionally, non-dairy options like plant-based and lactose-free milk will be added to the program. The changes have received criticism from dairy promotion groups, but the USDA expects dairy purchases through WIC to rise by as much as $400 million by 2025 due to increased participation. [ebc55899]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has finalized changes to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which will allow nearly 7 million low-income women and children to purchase more fruits and vegetables but less dairy. The updates to the program's food packages align with the latest nutrition science, increasing allowances for fruits, vegetables, and seafood, while decreasing the amounts of juice, dairy, and cheese. Additionally, non-dairy options like plant-based and lactose-free milk will be added to the program. The changes have received criticism from dairy promotion groups, but the USDA expects dairy purchases through WIC to rise by as much as $400 million by 2025 due to increased participation. [ebc55899]