WASHINGTON, DC – This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published its
final rule to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) that includes changes to the federal nutrition program. The new rule covers an array of topics, but relevant to rice are infant rice cereal recommendations, breakfast cereals, and whole grain access.
These changes come after a two-year comment and analysis period when the USDA released its rule proposal in 2022 based off a federal assessment of the WIC program. The 2022 proposed rule included reductions to the recommended quantities of infant cereal, fruits, vegetables, and meat, and the transitioning of WIC eligible breakfast cereals to 100 percent whole grain.
USA Rice responded to this proposed ruling (see
USA Rice Daily, February 27, 2023) and fiercely advocated for the continuation of infant rice cereal as an option for WIC-eligible infant food and urged the department to maintain breakfast cereal offerings that allow for key fortified non-whole grain cereals that help program participants meet certain nutritional needs and deliver on the needs of those with food allergies and cultural preferences.
Overall, USA Rice comments highlighted the range of nutritional benefits for WIC participants provided by U.S.-grown rice in all forms along with the role rice products play in contributing to healthy dietary patterns. The comments also demonstrated how rice advances equity of the program due to its affordability, accessibility, cultural significance, and broad acceptance among participants.
As a result, the final rule allows for the continuation of infant rice cereal at a slightly reduced rate with USDA recognizing the importance of this offering in delivering iron and zinc to breastfed infants as well as being an important gluten-free alternative. The agency also stated it will further assess iron intake during the next comprehensive review of the WIC food packages to ensure infants are still receiving adequate levels of iron consumption.
“We are glad to see USDA recognizes the importance of infant rice cereal to program participants with its ability to affordably provide historically under consumed and critical nutrients of iron and zinc and meet the need of having gluten-free options,” said Sam Schneider, Missouri rice farmer and chair of the USA Rice Nutrition Subcommittee. “We ask the department to closely monitor iron intake among infants following this change and be proactive in increasing the infant cereal recommendations if they witness unhealthy decreases in iron levels among this vulnerable population.”
The second major change focused on WIC-eligible breakfast cereals and USA Rice was successful in urging the USDA to allow key fortified non-whole grain cereals to continue to be offered in the program instead of transitioning to exclusively whole grain cereal offerings.
The new rule allows for 25 percent of the breakfast cereals not to be whole grain on the basis that these non-whole grain cereals drive consumption of critical nutrients like iron and folate and USDA recognizes that in the document, “The Department acknowledges that consuming non-whole grain cereal contributes to the delivery of important nutrients for healthy development, including iron and folate, as well as the nutrients from milk and fruit consumed with it.”
“USA Rice appreciates USDA acknowledging the role both whole grains and refined grains play in achieving a healthy eating pattern,” continued Schneider. “By allowing for a mix of both cereal options, the Department makes progress in its goal of increasing whole grain consumption, while not limiting widely accepted and accessible vehicle ingredients like enriched rice that drive vital nutrient consumption among program participants and better aligns these breakfast cereal offerings to the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines and school meal standards.”
Schneider added: “Again in this instance, we urge the USDA to closely monitor and ensure that these critical nutrients are being consumed at adequate levels for participants and the WIC Program, and if negative impacts are being experienced, the USDA reevaluate and update these standards accordingly.”
The final relevant change increases access to WIC-eligible whole grain options and expands the program offerings to include wild rice as well as provides the ability for WIC state agencies to authorize red and black rice.
These changes will begin to take effect starting in FY 2025 and will be fully in effect beginning in FY 2026.