WIC FAMILIES BUYING MORE LOW-FAT DAIRY

Efforts to get women and young children participating in WIC to consume less saturated fat seem to be paying off. Purchases of whole milk and cheese have decreased among WIC families in Connecticut after the program was revised in 2009 to better reflect dietary recommendations. Before the revisions, milk and cheese allowances exceeded dietary recommendations for dairy consumption in very young children, and most milk consumed was whole milk. After the revisions, only children under age 2 were authorized to get whole milk, while women and older children received 2% milk or lower. Before the revisions, whole milk accounted for, on average, 57% of total milk purchases and 56% of WIC milk purchases. Researchers found that the whole-milk share declined to 33% in total milk purchases, and 25% in WIC milk purchases. Purchases of WIC cheese using WIC benefits declined after the revisions by 77%

Source: Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity, 11/5/13, Low Fat on WIC