Plant-Based Dairy Just Became More Accessible to Americans Thanks to WIC Updates

Written by: Annie Taranshansky

On April 9th, 2024, the USDA announced a plant-forward update to the foods provided through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, better known as WIC. The updates include the expansion of plant-based yogurts and cheeses, as well as higher flexibility for states to authorize additional plant-based foods as they meet program nutrient specifications. This was the first update to the WIC food packages in 10 years and is a significant win: nearly seven million women, infants, and children – or 53 percent of all babies born in the United States – participate in WIC and rely on the program to meet their daily caloric intake.

A Brighter Food Future

WIC state agencies will have two years to fully implement these finalized updates, which were made under the recommendations of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) and the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, following draft WIC food packages revision published in November of 2022. Leading up to these important revisions, PBFA submitted comments in support of expanding plant-based offerings. In a move to ensure efficiency in accessing new innovative plant-based options, PBFA recommended that the USDA create a process that facilitates the approval of new plant-based products on a rolling basis as they meet federal nutrient specifications. In a significant win, the USDA will create a pathway to allow WIC state agencies to authorize products as they become available rather than waiting for a future rulemaking, particularly in the case where there are limited options or allergen considerations for certain foods that a plant-based option could satisfy.

In a press release published by the Department of Agriculture, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack shared, “These participant-centered changes will strengthen WIC by ensuring the foods participants receive reflect the latest nutrition science to support healthy eating and the brightest futures.” Food and Nutrition Service Administrator Cindy Long added, “For the 6.6 million moms, babies and young children who participate in WIC – and the millions more eligible to participate – these improvements to our food packages have the potential to make positive, life-long impacts on health and well-being.” In addition to expanding plant-based options, the final provision also includes increased allowances for fruits and vegetables.

A Win for Equity

It’s no secret that the plant-based dairy market has grown significantly over the past decade – an industry category that has skyrocketed due to consumer demand for food products that fit their dietary needs and values. From the standpoint of equity, 30-50 million Americans are lactose intolerant, and among those affected are 80 percent of all Black and Native Americans. In 2020, over 1.2 million WIC participants were Black individuals, who, until now, had limited options when it came to equitable and healthy lactose-free, plant-based dairy offerings. Federal food assistance programs are tasked with the key responsibility to set an example and standard for nutritional equity, and PBFA is pleased to see the USDA listening to the science and supporting the dietary requirements of our diverse American population.

PBFA applauds the updates to WIC packages, with our own Senior Director of Policy Marjorie Mulhall sharing, "We commend the USDA for expanding the plant-based options available for WIC participants, including plant-based yogurts and cheeses. These updates provide much-needed flexibility to WIC participants who seek out plant-based options for any number of reasons: health, environmental concerns, ethical reasons, and taste."

Increasing Access to Benefit People and Planet

This is an important win for the expansion of plant-based dairy offerings. PBFA will continue to advance a vision where all federal nutrition assistance programs move far beyond the status quo and expand to include numerous plant-based categories, thus affording participants in these programs with the same choices that all should have in consuming plant-based foods.