The Institute of Medicine, through the Food and Nutrition Board, undertook a 22-month study that used current scientific information to review the nutritional requirements and assess the supplemental nutrition needs of the population served by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Based on this review and assessment, the project report included recommendations for changes to the WIC food packages, focusing on changes that are relatively cost-neutral, are efficient for nationwide distribution, do not add to the administrative burden of national, state, or local agencies, and are culturally suitable.

The goal was the development of a set of well-conceived, practical recommendations for changes in the foods or amounts of foods provided in the WIC food packages to better address the nutritional deficits and challenges of the WIC target population groups and to enhance food acceptability and nutritional quality of the WIC food packages.

Contact the Public Access Records Office to make an inquiry or to schedule an appointment to view project materials available to the public.