Food vouchers for women and children overhauled

By Christopher Doering

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fruits, vegetables and whole grains will be added to the grocery list of items covered by the U.S. government's Women, Infants and Children program, which helps more than 8 million Americans buy food each year.

A Reuters-obtained copy of the report, which will be published on Thursday in the government's Federal Register, shows the addition of these items, while less support will be provided for milk, eggs and juice.

The government first announced the proposed changes in August 2006, and USDA is set to unveil them on Thursday.

"The new food packages are designed to improve the nutrition and health of our nation's low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants and young children with nutrition education, and more fruits, vegetables and whole grains to greatly improve dietary quality," Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner said in a statement.

U.S. officials said the changes, the first major overhaul to WIC since it began in 1974, were needed to meet changing science and dietary guidelines, which reflect a growing obesity epidemic in the United States.

"This really updates it and is an important step forward that follows the science. It's overdue," said Jim Weill, president of Food Research and Action Center, a hunger relief group.

States have until August 5, 2009, to implement the new measures.

Key changes include cutting the amount of eggs WIC recipients can buy with their government vouchers, from 2 to 2-1/2 dozen per month to one dozen.