USDA Recommends Fortified Tofu, Soymilk and Whole Soybeans as Options in Revised...

USDA Recommends Fortified Tofu, Soymilk and Whole Soybeans as Options in
Revised WIC Food Packages

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To meet the growing needs and
food preferences of diverse families participating in the Women, Infants, and
Children Supplemental Food Program (WIC), USDA has incorporated tofu and
soymilk into the revised WIC food packages. Both women and children will also
be able to select dried and canned whole soybeans as a meat alternative in the
WIC food packages. These soyfoods provide a high quality protein equal to
animal sources as well as calcium, iron, and fiber, without increasing
saturated fat and cholesterol in diets.

The Soyfoods Association of North America (SANA) applauds the tremendous
insight and dedication of USDA staff to review thousands of comments and to
devise rules that balance all interests and advance the health of the most
nutritionally vulnerable. These new rules accommodate the cultural food
preferences and nutrient needs of the women, infants, and children served by
WIC and meet the recommendations in the 2005 Dietary Guidelines. In the
twenty-three years since the WIC packages were designed, the country has
experienced dramatic population shifts in terms of ethnic and racial
diversity. The changes to the WIC food packages ensure those at nutritional
risk have access to a variety of nutritious foods to meet cultural needs.

Although the fortified soymilk and tofu will be readily available to pregnant
and lactating women, children in the WIC program will need to have medical
documentation to receive fortified soymilk and tofu as dairy alternatives.
Despite 2,107 comments opposing the proposed medical documentation for
children to receive soy-based beverages, USDA retained this additional
administrative burden for WIC centers. "USDA seems misguided in requiring WIC
recipients whose children don't drink milk to take off work and pay for a
medical exam just to document reasons the child avoids milk, especially when
the soy-based beverages must be nutritionally equivalent to milk in calcium,
vitamin A, vitamin D, protein, and other key nutrients," observes Nancy
Chapman, SANA Executive Director.

SANA will continue to work closely with WIC state offices and local clinics to
help WIC families locate and select soymilk and tofu when they seek dairy
alternatives or canned soybeans in place of dried legumes. For additional
facts and information on the nutritional and health value of a variety of
soyfoods, visit our website at www.soyfoods.org.

SOURCE Soyfoods Association of North America

Nancy Chapman, RD, MPH, Executive Director of Soyfoods Association of North
America, +1-202-659-3520