- USDA would like to reduce the amount of milk WIC participants get each month.
- Over 6 million low-income mothers and children rely on WIC for milk and dairy products.
- Some say the reduction means less milk consumption during critical life stages, which can lead to later health problems.
got milk If the U.S. Department of Agriculture gets its way, you might get less.
The USDA proposes to reduce the amount of milk that mothers and children receive each month by up to 25% through the Women, Infants and Children Special Nutritional Assistance Program (WIC).
The USDA says the reductions are “science-based” recommendations by world experts from the independent National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Milk is served in amounts up to 128% of his recommended daily amount of dairy products, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
According to the USDA, the new recommendations will provide milk in an amount that is 71% to 96% of the daily recommended dairy. WIC is a “complementary” nutrition program, and the American Academy of Pediatrics says it aligns the proposed breast milk reductions with the program’s goals.
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More than 6 million low-income mothers and children, including an estimated 43% of all U.S. infants, Rely on WIC every monthaccording to the USDA’s Economic Research Service.
According to the USDA, 90% of Americans are already not getting enough dairy, and some believe cutting back on dairy will make it worse, with long-term negative health consequences for children and women. I think it is possible.
A Morning Consult survey of 534 WIC participants in mid-December found that 76% were concerned about proposed reductions in milk and dairy volumes, and 20% said they would not even bother to re-enroll in the program if the reduction was made. A third said they were unsure whether to continue with WIC.
“It means nothing to me,” said Brittany Oxley, a WIC participant and medical assistant at Valley Health in West Virginia, who works with WIC’s mother. “Most women use her WIC for milk. They rely on this every month. If cut, they would have to pay for it out of their own pocket, and now , everything is very expensive.
What do you recommend for children and pregnant women?
USDA recommends the following:
- Toddlers under 2 years: 1-2/3 to 2 cups daily or 51.5 to 62 cups monthly.
- Children 2-3 years: 2 servings of dairy per day, or up to 62 servings of dairy per month.
- Children ages 4-8: Up to 2.5 cups daily or 77.5 cups monthly.
- Children 9 and up: 3 servings per day or 93 servings per month.
- Pregnant and lactating women: 3 scoops daily, or up to 93 scoops per month.
Note: 1 quart = 4 cups or glasses
What are the new planned recommendations?
According to the USDA, here are the proposed monthly changes based on recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine:
- Children 1 year (12-23 months): Reduce 12 quarts (48 glasses) of milk from 16 (64 glasses).
- Children 2-4 years: reduced from 16 quarts (64 glasses) to 14 quarts (56 glasses).
- Pregnant women: 16 quarts (64 glasses), down from 22 quarts (88 glasses).
- Partial (most) and exclusive breastfeeding: reduced from 24 (96 glasses) to 16 quarts (64 glasses).
- Postpartum: 16 quarts (64 glasses), no change.
Keith T. Ayoub, pediatric nutritionist and director of the Nutrition Clinic at the Rose F. Kennedy Pediatric Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, said: “These changes will result in less WIC allocation than recommended for children.”
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Megan Lott, deputy director of the National Healthy Eating Research Program, which identifies strategies to improve child nutrition and prevent childhood obesity, says that reducing children between the ages of 2 and 4 is He said it was probably fine.
However, Healthy Eating Research believes that cutting children under 2 is too much. This is approximately 53% to 80% of the recommended amount of 2-3 cups of milk per day.
Healthy Eating Research submitted a revision letter during the USDA comment period, proposing to reduce children under 2 to 14 quarts a month instead of 12 quarts. It “equates to about 1.8 cups of milk per day, which would provide about 60-90% of the HER Beverage Consensus recommendation,” it says.
Who will be most affected?
Low-income children and pregnant and lactating mothers who need essential nutrients that can be efficiently and economically provided by milk.
“Osteoporosis is a childhood disease that extends into adulthood,” said Ayoob. “[Bone]mass can only be increased in his first 25 years. I don’t want to prepare people for brittle bones and hip replacements.
The adverse health impacts for non-white Hispanic and black women and children are even more severe as they already lag behind whites in milk and dairy consumption. According to one study, African Americans aged 2 years and older had the lowest average daily intake of about 1.2 servings, while white Americans had the highest at about 1.7 servings. study It was published last year by Oxford University Press.
Plain milk was consumed more than any other dairy product in all ethnic groups.
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In proposing changes, the USDA also recognizes that many people are lactose intolerant and may need something other than milk.
“Since cases of lactose intolerance tend to be more prevalent among Asians, blacks, and Hispanics, it’s difficult to determine what the dietary impact will be.” For the first time, lactose-free milk is available as a milk replacer.Lactose-free milk contains the same important nutrients as cow’s milk and is still a great source of protein, calcium and vitamins. and minerals.”
Most states offer WIC recipients a lactose-free option, but the USDA makes this a requirement.
Dr. Laura Plencner, a pediatrician at Children’s Mercy Kansas City Hospital, said: This is significantly too low for her current WIC package. ”
Approximately one-third of WIC families utilized more than 90% of their monthly whole-milk allotment for children aged 12-24 months, and approximately 20% utilized low-fat milk for children aged 2 years and older lot. is estimated.
It’s only $8 per month per child participant included in the Fruits & Vegetables WIC package. “This is well below the cost if a child eats her recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day,” Prenkner said. USDA proposes raising the cash value to $24 per child per month.
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What are the benefits of milk?
Milk contains 11 essential nutrients, along with calcium and vitamin D, making it an excellent source of protein.
according to 2016 researchmilk and dairy products reduced the risk of childhood obesity, improved weight loss and body composition in adults, and probably reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, especially stroke. People also had lower rates of colorectal, bladder, gastric and breast cancer, and activity was not associated with risk of pancreatic, ovarian or lung cancer.
Although there are plant-based beverages that are fortified with calcium, milk and plant-based beverages are nutritionally different foods.The American Academy of Nutrition says if your child can tolerate it by age 2 Dairy milk, it surpasses all non-dairy milk for nutrition.One study found that non-milk consumption and short stature in childhoodit pointed out.
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What other changes has the USDA proposed?
Besides the milk cuts, here are other changes proposed by the USDA.
- For children ages 1-4, reduce juice in half to 64 fl oz.
- Ban flavored milk.
- Increase the amount of formula in the first month from 104 fl oz for partially breastfed infants to 364 fl oz.
- Experts appreciated this change, as more fruits and vegetables and more varieties of fruits and vegetables were available for purchase.
- Yogurt volume has been increased and a soy-based option has been added as a milk replacer.
- Cereals should be whole grain.
- Canned fish was added to children aged 2–4 years and to pregnant, partially-lactating, and postpartum individuals.
- Canned beans are permitted as well as dried beans.
- States can approve more types of package sizes to increase the variety and choice that can be added to the full monthly benefits.
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where is the problem now?
A bipartisan parliamentary group Lobbying the USDA Don’t let your WIC benefits cut your milk.
“Three of the top five food items reimbursed are dairy products, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the current WIC allocation will increase Sensitive families can continue to buy dairy,” wrote seven senators from Kansas, led by Roger Marshall. letter to USDA.
Public comment on the proposed changes closed at the end of February. The USDA is now incorporating feedback into final rule development, which typically takes up to six months, Lott said.
“When the final rule is published, it will include an implementation timeframe,” said a USDA spokesperson. “The process of creating and publishing a final rule typically takes months to complete.”
Medora Lee is a money, markets and personal finance reporter for USA TODAY. You can contact her at [email protected] and subscribe to her free Daily Her Money newsletter where you can get personal her finance tips and news about her business every Monday through Friday morning.
