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Dairy group urges comments on WIC proposal

The International Dairy Foods Association is encouraging anyone impacted by USDA’s proposed changes to the Women, Infant, and Children program to submit comments before next week’s deadline.

Matt Herrick, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications, tells Brownfield some of the changes could impact the availability of milk and dairy products for participants.

“The reduction in the WIC benefit came as a big surprise to us,” he says.  “They’re considering or proposing to reduce the overall cash benefit by about the equivalent of a gallon and a half of milk per month for a mom.”

The USDA says the revisions are science-based and incorporate recommendations from the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Other changes include increasing yogurt substitution amounts for milk.

Herrick says a recent survey by their organization found 20 percent of participants would drop out of the program as a result. And he says…

“Seventy-five percent are very concerned about how they’re going to purchase the dairy products that they need and their children need, so there’s some panic I think from WIC participants, at least the ones we surveyed,” he shares.

The deadline to submit comments is February 21.