Dietary changes in WIC program hit political wall (Dairy lobbyists)

[rainbow4321]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/DN-wicdog_02nat.ART.State.Bulldog.3da600f.html

If there is a major theme in the federal government's latest nutrition advice, it is to eat more fruits and vegetables.

But to date, politics and budgetary concerns have prevented the government from taking its own medicine when it comes to a program that is supposed to provide crucial nutrients to poor women and children.

The WIC food packages now include such things as infant formula, juice, milk, cheese, eggs and peanut butter. But previous attempts to revise the WIC packages have hit a brick wall in part because of opposition from powerful food lobbies, such as the dairy industry, that wanted to maintain the status quo.

Currently, the only fruits and vegetables offered in the WIC food packages are fresh carrots, but only for pregnant women. The Institute of Medicine proposed giving WIC recipients monthly vouchers – $8 for children, $10 for women – to buy fresh fruits or vegetables. But because the institute's mandate was to make changes without adding costs, its proposal calls for reductions in the amount of milk, juice and eggs that would be offered.

[Ian David]

1. Market forces at work. n/t

[justice1]

2. Women can shop in farmers markets in some states

WIC probably has the best return for the money spent on social programs. I believe it's $11 saved in health costs for every dollar spent on the program.

They should increase spending to include produce in groceries and farmers markets through out the country.

Not only would it benefit families, it would also benefit small farmers.

By the way, there are many people who qualify for WIC and CHIP, a health care program for children, that can be used even by people who have insurance. They simply don't have the budget to advertise the programs.

The cut-off is around 185% of the poverty line, so a family of 4 that makes around $40000 annually would qualify. Some states allow even higher incomes.

If you happen to know anyone that could benefit, encourage them to apply for help. As we've seen recently, diseases like mumps are making a come back, and immunizations are often not covered by insurance companies.

[ecoalex]

3. Dairy products are essential for health of babies, mothers

[Phx_Dem]

5. Your kidding right? n/t

[jwirr]

10. When did these not become essentials for pregnant women and

children? The items that could be dropped from WIC the easiest are the cold cereals. They are loaded with carbs.

[Phx_Dem]

12. I think WIC should still give this stuff out

but cow milk is not essential for any human. Carbs are used in the body for energy, there is nothing "bad" about carbs.

[jwirr]

13. Unless you teach your young children to crave them. I know

of families who feed their children cereal several times a day! with sugar on it. Remember we have an obesity problem with children today.

[jhain]

6. Baby COWS, right?

http://www.milksucks.com/

[jwirr]

11. Most people getting WIC are not vegetarians. Also a

balanced diet calls for all the items found in the food pyramid. One thing that many do not know is that sometimes WIC pays for more of one or another item then a family uses. Why not make the vouchers for either/or.

[LeftyMom]

14. No they aren't

Most human beings don't even digest dairy well. The ability to eat dairy without discomfort is a mutation common only in people of northern european extraction.

[bread_and_roses]

8. good points. but I don't think WIC is ever fully funded

so, in this State, my memory is that there are those who are eligible who can't get on. The priority goes: pregnant/nursing, infant, toddler.

Here, Food Stamps can be used at Farmer's Markets, I am not sure about WIC, which has strict rules on which food products can be obtained.

Farmer's Markets are also usually much more difficult to arrange to get to than the local supermarket.

It's been a while since I worked with the mothers of young chilren, so my memory could be in error on the eligibility and triage.

[RaRa]

9. Perhaps

but, how much are they spending on formula versus lactation consulting?

[Gormy Cuss]

4. Dairy industry lobbyists shouldn't have a place at the table.

Period.

[bread_and_roses]

7. The vegetable additions should not be made at the expense of dairy

foods, eggs, peanut butter. I am all for increasing the WIC budget to ADD fruits and vegetables, but these protein foods are essential, especially for the poorest of the WIC recipients, people on welfare or worse, sanctioned from welfare.

[Canuckistanian]

15. Get the corporation sout of this

This should be a matter for dieticians only to decide.

At this rate, the only things on ths list would be processed foods from major companies like General Foods or Nestle's.

And where are the fresh vegetable and fruit lobbies on this?