KarunaNews Story

The federal program that helps pay for groceries for millions of low-income mothers, babies and young kids in the US will soon emphasize more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and provide a wider choice of foods from different cultures. The WIC program, which served an average of about 6.6 million low-income Americans a month in 2023 at a cost of about $7 billion, supplements food budgets for pregnant, nursing and postpartum women, and feeds babies and young kids up to age 5. Last updated a decade ago, the new WIC rules make permanent a bump in monthly cash vouchers for fruits and vegetables. Shoppers can also add canned fish, fresh herbs and lactose-free milk to their carts. But officials have said only about half of those eligible are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.