Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food packages for children aged one to four years include a cash value benefit (CVB) redeemable for fruits and vegetables with participating vendors. Beginning in June 2021, the CVB value was increased. In a recent study, we evaluated associations of the augmented CVB with the amount and diversity of redeemed fruits and vegetables. We found that the augmented CVB was associated with greater and more diverse purchases of fruits and vegetables. Our results suggest that policies designed to increase the value of benefits like WIC can help improve access to high-quality foods among children from low-income families.
- In June 2021, the cash value benefit (CVB) of WIC food packages for children aged one to four was increased.
- The augmented CVB was associated with greater and more diverse purchases of fruits and vegetables.
- Policies designed to increase the value of benefits like the WIC CVB can help improve diet quality among children from low-income families.
The study demonstrates that the increased WIC CVB was well received by participating households and allowed families to redeem greater amounts of various fruits and vegetables. The increased diversity of fruits and vegetables redeemed following the augmented CVB should be considered a success in increasing access to sufficient amounts and diversity of fruits and vegetables among low-income households.
Since increased diversity of redemption contributes to improved household access to diverse fruit and vegetables, and could therefore contribute to more diversity in child fruit-and-vegetable intake, policy makers should consider the potential of the increased WIC CVB in improving the diets of children in low-income households. As our findings suggest, maintaining the augmentation of fruit and vegetable benefits for children will likely have a positive impact on nutrition among disadvantaged families.
Christopher E. Anderson is an associate research scientist at Public Health Foundation Enterprises (PHFE) WIC, a program of Heluna Health.
Lauren E. Au is an assistant professor of nutrition at ºÙºÙÊÓƵ.
Catherine E. Yepez is an associate research scientist at Public Health Foundation Enterprises (PHFE) WIC, a program of Heluna Health.
Lorrene D. Ritchie is director of the Nutrition Policy Institute in the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Marisa M. Tsai is a research data analyst at the Nutrition Policy Institute in the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Shannon E. Whaley is director of research and evaluation at Public Health Foundation Enterprises (PHFE) WIC, a program of Heluna Health.