The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program in Oregon continues to limit mothers to a narrow range of food choices, many of which are unhealthy, unsafe, unsustainable, or unethical.

No one should be denied the opportunity to provide the best for their children and support a better food production system simply because they're poor. Ask Oregon WIC to revise its food list to include organic, hormone-free, and cruelty-free items.

Oregon WIC's list of approved foods is a confusing hodge-podge of arbitrary rules. Mothers in the program can buy organic fruits and vegetables but not organic milk, grains, legumes, eggs, cheese, peanut butter, or infant foods and cereals. They can buy soy milk but not rice milk or raw milk, white eggs but not cage-free or those with higher Omega-3 or Vitamin E. Cheese options are slim -- only six varieties are permitted. Moms can't even purchase low-fat peanut butter for their families.

The ability to shop for nutritious, safe, animal-friendly and environmentally sustainable food must not be reserved for the wealthy. Ask Oregon WIC to expand its approved food list.

Photo credit: NatalieHG