|
Click to listen to this article
|
National Potato Council (NPC) submitted comments to USDA in response to their proposed revisions to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). In November, the Department announced proposed changes that would affirm the eligibility of white potatoes in the program. The proposal would serve to codify the requirements as mandated by Congress in 2015 that prevented USDA from excluding white potatoes from the program.
In the comments, NPC wrote that it is supportive of USDA’s approach to better align the WIC food package with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which encourages the consumption of more fruits and vegetables.
NPC also requested that in the final rule USDA: finalize the rule without any limitations on the eligibility of white potatoes in the program; require state agencies to authorize fruits and vegetables in “all forms;” allow all fresh fruits and vegetables regardless of package size to be purchased through WIC vouchers; consider flexible approaches to increase vegetable intake through permitting small amounts of additives in vegetable products; and provide WIC education focused on increasing fruit and vegetable consumption.
The full comments are available HERE.
