Did Revisions to the WIC Program Affect Household Expenditures on Whole Grains?

• Published in: Applied economic perspectives and policy Vol. 38; no. 4; pp. 578 - 598
• Main Authors: Oh, Miyoung, Jensen, Helen H., Rahkovsky, Ilya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press 01.12.2016
• Subjects: diet; Featured Article; health; household food purchases; WIC program
• ISSN: 2040-5790; 2040-5804
• DOI: 10.1093/aepp/ppw020

The food packages provided by the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program changed in 2009. This article examines purchases of whole grain products before and after the change. Nielsen Homescan panel data from 2008 to 2010 provide information on households' food purchases, demographics, and self-reported WIC participation status. We estimate the effect of WIC participation and the 2009 package change on whole grains purchases using a difference-in-difference method, and find that participation in the WIC program was associated with more whole grain purchases during the observed period; the package change in 2009 roughly doubled the associated effect of WIC participation on the purchases of whole grain products. These results are consistent with recommendations in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and suggest that moderate innovations in the design of food assistance programs can lead to beneficial dietary choices.