April 2015 Food List Implementation

Arizona WIC Partner’s MeetingJanuary 15, 2015

Karen Henry MS, RDN

Overview

• Food List Changes

• Implementation Plan

• Materials/ tools needed

Major additions

• Yogurt

• Whole wheat pasta (new grain option)

• Any brand, any variety canned beans

Yogurt

• 1 quart of yogurt can be substituted for 1 quart of milk in all children and women packages

• Dangling quart packages will no longer be standard

• Whole fat yogurt is authorized only for children less than 2 years of age (C1s)

• Low-fat and non-fat yogurts are authorized for all children (C1-C4) and women

yogurt

Whole Wheat Pasta

Added as an additional 16 oz grain option.Checks will read for example:

16 OUNCES (1 PACKAGE – 16 OZ ONLY) WIC APPROVED BREAD, BROWN RICE, WHOLE WHEAT PASTA, OR TORTILLAS (WHOLE WHEAT OR CORN)

Potatoes• In 2009, the Institute of Medicine recommended that potatoes be excluded

from the WIC food package since the WIC population already eats enough white potatoes, this opinion has not changed

• New legislation recently passed (Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act) indicates no fruits or vegetables should be excluded from WIC – All state’s must allow all types of potatoes by July 1, 2015– AZ will implement this on April 1, 2015

• We removed white potatoes from the can not buy side of the food list

• Starting April 1, 2015 staff can tell participants that they can buy “any” vegetable

• Nutritional Services Workgroup is going to come up with some talking points if participants have questions

A few new

clarifying pointers

New anti-discrimination

statement

New page

New

New soy milk

New

New section

All kinds of

potatoes are now allowed

All kinds of

potatoes are now allowed

Canned beans now any brand, any variety

Adding back Rice Chex

(since now an 18 oz. box available)

Juice sections rearranged

ITCA only

section

Removed statement

that coupons

cannot be used for formula

Implementation Plan

Implementation plan

April 1st 2015 will start issuing new foods

• Will not have to change packages to have whole wheat pasta listed as a grain

• Will have to change packages to get yogurt– Standard packages with yogurt will be added to the Standard Menu– For special packages: “compatible package tool” will be available

Implementation continued

For popular special packages, will have “compatible package tool” spreadsheet with compatible package with yogurt

Food Package: Description  

Corresponding Food Package with yogurt: Description

AZxxxxxxPEDIASURE W/ FIBER,108 BTL,NO YOGURT,WH MILK,0 CHS,C1 g AZxxxxxx PEDIASURE W/ FIBER,108 BTL,ALL FOODS,WH MILK,0 CHS,C1

AZxxxxxxPEDIASURE W/ FIBER,108 BTL,NO YOGURT,WH MILK,1 CHS,C1 g AZxxxxxx PEDIASURE W/ FIBER,108 BTL,ALL FOODS,WH MILK,1 CHS,C1

AZxxxxxxPEDIASURE W/ FIBER,60 BTL,NO YOGURT,WH MILK,0 CHS,C1 g AZxxxxxx PEDIASURE W/ FIBER,60 BTL,ALL FOODS,WH MILK,0 CHS,C1

Implementation continued

Participants with checks printed prior to April will have option to come back to the clinic and switch out April and onward checks for the new package

Materials

Materials/ Tools• New Food List

• WIC Food Menus

• Compatible Package with Yogurt Spreadsheet

• Other materials?

AzxxxxxxPEDIASURE W/ FIBER,108 BTL,NO YOGURT,WH MILK,1 CHS,C1 g Azxxxxxx

PEDIASURE W/ FIBER,108 BTL,ALL FOODS,WH MILK,1 CHS,C1