Contents

• THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
• COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE WIC FOOD PACKAGES
• FOOD AND NUTRITION BOARD
• Reviewers
• Executive Summary
• 1. Introduction and Background
  • THE WIC PROGRAM
  • THE WIC POPULATION HAS CHANGED SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE WIC PROGRAM
  • THE FOOD SUPPLY AND DIETARY PATTERNS HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE WIC PROGRAM
  • THE HEALTH RISKS OF THE WIC-ELIGIBLE POPULATION HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE WIC PROGRAM
  • DIETARY GUIDANCE AND RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE WIC PROGRAM
  • THE COMMITTEE'S TASK
• 2. Challenges to Selecting an Effective Set of WIC Food Packages
  • INTRODUCTION
  • ADDRESSING BOTH OVERNUTRITION AND UNDERNUTRITION
  • PARTICIPANT DIVERSITY
  • EMPLOYMENT
  • FOOD AVAILABILITY
  • LIMITATIONS IN TRANSPORTATION, STORAGE, OR COOKING FACILITIES
  • FOOD SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
  • ADMINISTRATIVE IMPACTS
  • INCENTIVES
  • SUMMARY
• 3. Nutrient Intake of WIC-Eligible Populations
  • INTRODUCTION
  • DIETARY REFERENCE INTAKES (IOM, 1997-2004)
  • USING THE DRI TO ASSESS NUTRIENT ADEQUACY
  • RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
  • SUMMARY
• 4. Food Intake of WIC-Eligible Populations
  • INTRODUCTION
  • DIETARY INTAKES OF CHILDREN AGES 2 THROUGH 4 YEARS AND OF WOMEN
  • FINDINGS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND WOMEN
  • DIETARY INTAKES OF INFANTS AND CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN TWO YEARS
  • SUMMARY
• 5. Nutrition-Related Health Risks and Outcomes of WIC-Eligible Populations
  • INTRODUCTION
  • MATERNAL NUTRITION-RELATED HEALTH RISKS AND OUTCOMES
  • NUTRITION-RELATED HEALTH RISKS AND OUTCOMES IN INFANTS AND CHILDREN
  • FOOD ALLERGIES
  • ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS IN THE WIC POPULATION
  • SUMMARY
• 6. Proposed Approach for Selecting the WIC Food Packages
  • INTRODUCTION
  • IMPLICATIONS OF A SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM
  • PROPOSED CRITERIA FOR THE WIC FOOD PACKAGES
  • PROCESS FOR TRANSLATING THE CRITERIA INTO FOOD PACKAGES
  • EVALUATING COST NEUTRALITY
  • PROPOSED METHODS FOR EVALUATING BENEFITS AND RISKS OF ALTERNATIVE WIC FOOD PACKAGES
  • SUMMARY
• 7 References
• Appendix A Tables
• Appendix B Biographical Sketches of Committee Members
• Appendix C Acronyms and Abbreviations

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

This study was supported by contract number 43-3198-03-0127 between the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsoring agency that provided support for the project.