The Minnesota WIC Program’s Food Package Changes
Infant Foods in the Spotlight
This is the fourth in a series of updates spotlighting the foods in the new WIC food package. All stores
will need to have the new WIC foods in stock by August 1, 2009. This update focuses on the new infant
foods that will be allowed in the new WIC food package.
What baby foods can WIC customers purchase?
™ Infant fruits – Any 4 ounce or 4.5 ounce variety single ingredient or two single fruit
ingredients combined (e.g. apple/banana). The WIC allowed brands will be designated
on the WIC food list.
™ Infant vegetables – Any 4 ounce or 4.5 ounce variety single ingredient or two single
vegetable ingredients combined (e.g. corn/peas). The WIC allowed brands will be
designated on the WIC food list.
™ Fresh bananas – Many WIC infants will receive a voucher that lists two pounds of fresh
bananas in lieu of some of their infant fruits and vegetables.
™ Infant meats – Any 2.5 ounce variety meat or poultry as a single ingredient. The WIC
allowed brands will be designated on the WIC food list.
™ Infant cereal – Infant cereal will continue to be a part of the infant food package. The
WIC allowed brands will be designated on the WIC food list.
What will this change mean for my store?
™ Starting August 1, 2009, your store will need to stock infant foods.
™ Under the new minimum stock requirements, stores located in Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin or
Ramsey counties will need to have in stock at all times 256 ounces (about 64 containers) of
WIC-allowed infant fruits and vegetables in at least three varieties of fruits and three
varieties of vegetables. Stores located in other counties will need to have in stock at all
times 128 ounces (about 32 containers) of WIC-allowed infant fruits and vegetables in at
least two varieties of fruits and two varieties of vegetables. Since these infant foods will take
up a significant amount of shelf space, your store may wish to begin planning now to
accommodate the increased demand for these products.
™ Stores will need to stock WIC-allowed baby food meats upon request of a WIC customer. We
will have a kosher/halal option available for WIC customers.
™ Some WIC infant participants will receive up to two pounds of fresh bananas in lieu of a portion
of their infant foods. Unlike the fruit and vegetable voucher, WIC customers WILL NOT be
allowed to pay the difference if they exceed this two pound amount. In this situation, the
quantity of bananas being purchased will need to be reduced.
Will vouchers look different?
™ For the most part, no. But store cashiers will need to read the vouchers carefully
to identify the amounts and varieties of baby foods that the WIC customer can
purchase. With the first voucher below, the WIC customer can purchase 16 (4
ounce) containers or 14 (4.5 ounce) containers of baby food fruits and/or
vegetables. With the second voucher below, the WIC customer can purchase up
to two pounds of bananas and 14 (4 ounce) containers or 12 (4.5 ounce)
containers of baby food fruits and/or vegetables.
Example of WIC voucher with jars/containers of infant foods:
Example of WIC voucher with fresh bananas substitution: