The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service has proposed science-based changes to the foods provided through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).

According to a Nov. 17 news release, the scientific changes were based on suggestions from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025 and the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine.

“USDA is committed to advancing maternal and child health through WIC, helping mothers, babies and young kids thrive," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in the release. "These proposed changes will strengthen WIC – already an incredibly powerful program – by ensuring it provides foods that reflect the latest nutrition science to support healthy eating and bright futures.”

The WIC food packages were created to help boost healthy growth and development by filling in the nutritional gaps of the food and drinks those who participate in the program already ingest. The Food and Nutrition Service suggested the changes to help bring food included in the program up in line with the most recent nutritional studies, the release stated.

According to the release, the changes as a whole will raise the level of assistance while giving WIC state agencies more freedom to customize the packages to meet special dietary requirements, cultural food preferences and an increase in options and choices for WIC participants.