The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) became a permanent program in the United States in 1975. At the time, more than twice as many Floridians were eligible for the program than funding would cover. By 2023, almost 50 years later, over 400,000 people participated in WIC in Florida.
Although participants in Florida come from all races and ethnicities, people of color participate at a greater rate because they are more likely to live in poverty due to systemic racism that affects employment opportunities and wages. Still, because WIC is not an “entitlement” program, not everyone who is eligible can participate due to funding constraints, which disproportionately affect people of color. However, while the program restricts the types of food that can be purchased with WIC, its approved food package has been expanded significantly since the program was first piloted, when WIC’s food package was criticized as culturally inappropriate for many participants.
Evidence of the lifetime benefits of WIC on infants and children is impressive. WIC is associated with better overall health outcomes for infants and children who are nutritionally at risk, as well as a reduction in low-birth-weight rates and improved fetal and cognitive development. In addition to giving low-income children access to a more nutritious diet, WIC plays a role in bettering school performance.