1

Section 7.3: Food Package Assignment Overview 1/2011 References: 7 CFR 246.10 Policy: ▪ Food packages must be assigned by CPAs and be appropriate to the category of eligibility. ▪ CPAs, in consultation with the participant or parent/caregiver, must tailor the food package to address the nutritional needs, circumstances, and preferences of the participant. ▪ The food package must support and protect breastfeeding. Purpose: To provide a food package that will best meet the participant’s needs and provide foods the participant will consume. Procedures 1. There are seven Food Package Categories. Refer to the specific policy for each food package category. See table below. 2. Food Package Assignment. Local Agencies must: ▪ Authorize only CPAs to assign food packages. ▪ Make available to participants the maximum monthly allowance of authorized supplemental foods in their food package category. ▪ Exception: If supplementation is determined necessary for a breastfed infant, prescribe the minimum amount of formula needed. ▪ Not exceed maximum monthly allowance of authorized supplemental foods in the food package category. ▪ Abide by authorized substitution rates for WIC foods. 3. Nutrition Tailoring. CPAs may individually tailor a food package and prescribe less than the maximum monthly allowance of supplemental foods only in the following situations: ▪ A breastfed infant is determined to require supplementation: the CPA must evaluate current feeding practices and prescribe the minimum amount of formula needed. ▪ A participant has a medical or nutritional condition warranting the restriction of certain foods. Examples include: ▪ Food allergies

S E C T I O N 7 . 3 : F O O D P A C K A G E A S S I G N M E N T O V E R V I E W 2 ▪ Diabetes, in which case fruit juice might be limited or eliminated. ▪ Cases in which providing the maximum allowance would exceed the amount of food prescribed by the medical provider. ▪ A participant refuses a food or cannot use the maximum monthly allowance. ▪ The quantities necessary to supplement another program’s contribution (e.g., MA) to fill a medical prescription would be less than the maximum monthly allowance. Food Package Categories Category Food Package designed for Food Package 1 Section 7.7 ▪ Infants 0 through 5 months Food Package 2 Section 7.8 ▪ Infants 6 through 11 months Food Package 3 Section 7.9 ▪ Women with qualifying conditions ▪ Children with qualifying conditions ▪ Infants with qualifying conditions Food Package 4 Section 7.10 ▪ Children 1 through 4 years Food Package 5 Section 7.11 ▪ Pregnant women ▪ Mostly-Breastfeeding women Food Package 6 Section 7.12 ▪ Some-Breastfeeding women up to 6 months postpartum (whose infants receive more formula than allowed in the Mostly-Breastfed Infant food package) ▪ Non-breastfeeding postpartum women up to 6 months postpartum Food Package 7 Section 7.13 ▪ Fully-Breastfeeding women up to 1 year postpartum, whose infants do not receive infant formula from WIC ▪ Women pregnant with multiples ▪ Women Mostly-Breastfeeding multiple infants (whose infants are receiving the Mostly-Breastfed Infant food package) ▪ Women breastfeeding multiple infants where one infant is receiving the Fully-Breastfed Infant food package and the other(s) receiving the Mostly- or Some- Breastfed Infant food package. ▪ Women pregnant and Fully- or Mostly-Breastfeeding an infant up to 1 year Food Package 7+ Section 7.13 ▪ Women Fully-Breastfeeding multiple infants

S E C T I O N 7 . 3 : F O O D P A C K A G E A S S I G N M E N T O V E R V I E W 3 Guidance ▪ Use information gathered during the health and nutrition assessment to individualize and tailor the food package as appropriate. Consider: ▪ Nutrition needs ▪ Personal and cultural preferences ▪ Environmental conditions ▪ Explain the food package to the participant. WIC foods are intended to help meet the participant’s nutrition needs and support his/her health. ▪ WIC foods are good sources of selected nutrients often lacking in many diets. ▪ WIC offers more healthful forms of foods (such as lowfat milk, fruits without added sugar, cereals with less sugar, etc.) to promote healthier family meals. ▪ Foods provided by WIC enable families to spend their food dollars on other foods they might wish to buy. ▪ Participants are not required to purchase all the foods (or full quantity of foods) available to them. ▪ Availability of some food items and specific brands varies between vendors. Refer to Minimum Stock Requirements and UPC WIC-Allowed Food Product Listing for more information. Reference – Complete Listing of Hyperlinks Section 7.7: Food Package for Infants 0-5 Months (Food Package 1) (https://www.health.state.mn.us/docs/people/wic/localagency/program/mom/chsctns/ch7/sct n7_7.pdf) Section 7.8: Food Package for Infants 6-11 Months (Food Package 2) (https://www.health.state.mn.us/docs/people/wic/localagency/program/mom/chsctns/ch7/sct n7_8.pdf) Section 7.9: Food Package for Infants, Women, and Children with Qualifying Medical Conditions (Food Package 3) (https://www.health.state.mn.us/docs/people/wic/localagency/program/mom/chsctns/ch7/sct n7_9.pdf) Section 7.10: Food Package for Children 1 through 4 years old (Food Package 4) (https://www.health.state.mn.us/docs/people/wic/localagency/program/mom/chsctns/ch7/sct n7_10.pdf) Section 7.11: Food Package for Pregnant Women and Mostly-Breastfeeding Women (Food Package 5)

S E C T I O N 7 . 3 : F O O D P A C K A G E A S S I G N M E N T O V E R V I E W 4 (https://www.health.state.mn.us/docs/people/wic/localagency/program/mom/chsctns/ch7/sct n7_11.pdf) Section 7.12: Food Package for Some-Breastfeeding and Non-Breastfeeding Postpartum Women (Food Package 6) (https://www.health.state.mn.us/docs/people/wic/localagency/program/mom/chsctns/ch7/sct n7_12.pdf) Section 7.13: Food Package for Fully Breastfeeding Women (https://www.health.state.mn.us/docs/people/wic/localagency/program/mom/chsctns/ch7/sct n7_13.pdf) Minimum Stock Requirements (https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/wic/vendor/index.html#minimum1) UPC WIC-Allowed Food Product Listing (http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/fh/wic/vendor/fpchng/upc/index.html) Minnesota Department of Health - WIC Program 625 Robert St N, PO BOX 64975, ST PAUL MN 55164-0975; 1-800-657-3942, health.wic@state.mn.us, www.health.state.mn.us. To obtain this information in a different format, call: 1-800-657-3942 This institution is an equal opportunity provider.