Protect The Harvest | USDA Proposes Reducing Dairy Products for WIC Recipients

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently proposed milk reductions for its Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), a program that currently serves more than six million mothers, infants and children across America. According to the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), if the USDA’s changes are adopted, a pregnant mother with two children under age five could lose three gallons, or more, of milk each month. Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers would experience the largest reduction. The dairy industry is standing with WIC participants against USDA’s proposed change.

A recent IDFA poll revealed that three out of four women in the WIC program are concerned with the proposal. In addition, one-third said that they will need outside funds to cover the purchase of dairy products with their weekly groceries. Sadly, the USDA’s proposed change goes directly against the reason the program exists, which is to ensure low-income mothers can provide themselves, their young children, and infants with nutritious foods.

The proposed reduction will harm both WIC participants and the program itself, as the same IDFA poll projected that 20 percent of WIC participants would not re-enroll due to the dairy cuts. That number jumps to 34 percent of women who are unsure if they would re-