Women, Infants, and Children, Special Supplemental Food Program for

John Worobey

Women, Infants, and Children, the Special Supplemental Food Program better known as WIC, was authorized by the U.S. Congress in 1972 (Pub. L. 92–433) via an amendment to the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, and became permanent shortly thereafter in 1975 (Pub. L. 94–105). Administration of the program lies with the Food and Nutrition Service division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). WIC was developed to improve the health of low-income pregnant and postpartum women and their infants and children under age 5 who are at nutritional risk. With respect to pregnancy, WIC seeks to improve fetal development by reducing short gestation, anemia, and the incidence of low birth weight. By meeting the special nutritional needs of infants and children, the program tries to prevent the health and developmental problems that may be associated with poor nutrition during pregnancy and early childhood. To this end, WIC participants receive supplemental ...

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