326229
Impact of the WIC Food Package Change: A Literature Review
Methods: A variety of major databases were used to conduct this systematic review. Keywords used were “WIC program,” “retailers stores,” “food policy,” “food assistance,” “food intake,” “ milk,” juice,” “sales,” “qualitative research.”
Results: To date, published findings have reported the influence of the WIC policy change on access and availability of healthful foods in neighborhoods; vendor practices and beliefs; breastfeeding initiation and infant feeding decisions; juice and beverage purchases; whole milk and cheese purchases; and impact on the diets of WIC recipients. Results show that availability and variety of healthy foods improved in convenience and grocery stores. Breastfeeding rates increased. In addition, the total purchases of 100% juice, milk and cheese declined significantly. Consumption of whole grains, lower-fat milk and fruits and vegetables increased significantly after the introduction of the new WIC food package.
Conclusion: The revisions to the WIC food packages have had important impacts on availability and consumption of foods included in the packages.
Learning Areas:
Public health or related public policyPublic health or related research
Learning Objectives:
Describe the impact of the new WIC food package on WIC participants, vendors and communities
Keyword(s): Public Health Policy, WIC
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have conducted a literature review on the effects of the federal food package revisions with supervision from a professor from the Health Science department at California State University, Fullerton.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.