This article examines the impact of the 2009 food package changes for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) on the availability of healthful foods in two lower-income urban neighborhoods in Philadelphia. Each year, WIC provides more than 9 million pregnant and breast-feeding women, infants, and children up to age five with food deemed essential to proper growth and development. Changes to the WIC food package included the addition of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains, and a switch from whole milk to 2% milk for children over two years of age. Researchers found that the availability of healthful foods increased significantly in stores overall, with more substantial increases in WIC-authorized stores following changes to the WIC food package.
Published: May 2012
ID #: 66953
Journal: J Nutr Educ Behav
Authors: Hillier A, McLaughlin J, Cannuscio CC, Chilton M, Krasny S, Karpyn A
Age Groups: Adults and Families, Preschool-age children (ages 3 to 5)
Race/Ethnicity: African American or Black, Latino(a) or Hispanic, Multi-racial/ethnic
Keywords: Corner store, Fruits and vegetables, Geographic information systems, Grocery store, Neighborhood, Supermarket, Urban, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Focus Areas: Food Access, Nutrition Policy & Programs
Resource Type: Journal Article
State: Pennsylvania
Related Research
November 2009
Evaluating the Impact of WIC Voucher Changes on Low-Income Families and Neighborhoods
Major policy changes in WIC voucher provision for a wide range of healthy foods has the potential to impact the more than eight million U.S. families that receive WIC benefits as well as the food environment in low-income neighborhoods. In December 2008, investigators began conducting baseline research about the food choices that WIC participants make, MoreFebruary 2023
Rapid Health Impact Assessment on Changes to School Nutrition Standards to Align with 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
The national school breakfast and lunch programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are cornerstone federal nutrition assistance programs. School meals are one of the healthiest sources of foods for school-age children, which is significant as some children receive up to half of their daily calories at school. Policy opportunities in 2023 MoreJanuary 2023