NPA: Congress asks Institute of Medicine to investigate expanding WIC access to vitamins

WASHINGTON — The Natural Products Association commended the U.S. House on Thursday for urging the Institute of Medicine to investigate expanding access to vitamins for low-income mothers and children. The provision is included in the House Agriculture Committee's FY 2017 appropriations bill report.



"If school cafeterias are allowed to serve things like french fries and pizza, we think it is reasonable to find a way for mothers and fathers to purchase items that can support their children's health," stated Dan Fabricant, president and CEO NPA. "Expanding WIC to cover supplements would mark a big win for low-income families, and we commend the House for taking this first step in pushing such a common-sense policy stance."



Since 1978, the WIC Supplement Food Program has served low-income, at-risk pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants and children up to age 5. The WIC program provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, healhcare referrals and nutrition education.



NPA pledged to continue its work with Congress in defining the parameters for the inclusion of multivitamins in the WIC program and in the Foot Stamp/SNAP program, which will likely be addressed in the 2018 farm bill to ensure the maximum number of families access their  benefits.