The USDA is starting to see the plant-based light! At least once every 10 years, the USDA is legally required to review the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food packages and update them to reflect nutrition science, public health concerns, and cultural eating patterns. The last revision was in 2014 so the program was due some updates. 

And the proposed updates definitely reflect a cultural shift towards plant-based eating! The USDA will be offering (for those that want it) plant-based dairy alternatives for milk and yogurt, tofu in place of eggs, more fruits and veggies, and more whole grains (including quinoa)! All of that is great news for many of the program's over 6 million participants.  

It's also great news for us, because it means that the USDA already recognizes the shift towards and need for plant-based alternatives. Now let's remind them that once those infants and children in the WIC program become school-aged, they often rely on the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) for wholesome meals. Please keep sharing our petition to have non-dairy options added to the NSLP 2023-24 Foods Available list any way you can! 

If you want more information on the WIC program improvements, check out this article from The Beet, or go straight to the source with the USDA's FAQ on the subject. 

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