WIC rule this week?

Lorelei DiSogra of the United Fresh Produce Association says in an email that the WIC rule for fruit and vegetable vouchers for participants in the WIC program may be issued this week. She noted that sources at the National WIC Association (NWA) reported Nov. 21 that the White House Office of Management & the Budget (OMB) completed its review of the proposed revisions in the WIC Food Packages. The NWA said the changes are expected to be published in the Federal Register by USDA/FNS as Interim Final Rule as early as this week.

A Nov. 21 report by NWA, a nutrition advocacy group devoted to the WIC program, recaps the fight to change the WIC food packages:


In 2000, the strong voices of the WIC Food Package Task Force, backed by the Board of Directors, and the Association’s membership published NWA’s WIC Food Prescription Recommendations proposing sweeping changes to the food packages to include among other things fresh, frozen, and canned fruits and vegetables.
In 2003, the Culturally Sensitive Food Package Task Force, again backed by the Board of Directors, and the Association’s membership published NWA’s WIC Culturally Sensitive Food Prescription Recommendations.
Together, these documents formed a backbone of recommendations considered by the Committee to Review the WIC Food Packages of the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine (IOM). The resulting IOM recommendations to the USDA and Congress reflected to a large extent the proposals offered by NWA.
Thanks to the professional, committed work of the Food & Nutrition Service team who stood with NWA throughout our efforts to promote changes to the WIC Food Packages, USDA/FNS’ proposal to make revisions in the WIC food packages published in August of 2006, reflected to a significant degree the recommendations of the IOM.
Now we are on the precipice of implementation. NWA will host a Food Package Implementation Summit on 11 March in conjunction with our annual Washington Leadership Conference 9-11 March in Washington, DC. The Summit will bring together USDA and over 30 national organizations as well NWA members to discern the most effective and responsible ways to roll out the new WIC Food Packages; evolve a statement of shared principles that we can rely upon as we move towards full implementation; and create a roster of experts for further counsel and consultation. We hope that you will join us in Washington for this important Leadership Conference and Summit. Watch www.nwica.org and Monday Morning Report for further information.
NWA’s Food Package Implementation Task Force will be reviewing the interim final rule and considering recommendations to assists state and local agencies as they work through the process of implementation.