Feb 27, 2023
ARLINGTON, VA – Last week, USA Rice submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) in response to the agency’s proposed rule for “Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): Revisions in the WIC Food Packages.”
Current law requires reviews of the foods eligible for WIC every ten years. The change in the proposed rule most relevant to the U.S. rice industry is a change to the WIC breakfast cereal category from the current requirement that half the cereal options be whole grain to exclusively whole grain cereal options. All non-whole grain cereals will be ineligible for the program, eliminating cereal options using enriched grains like white rice and corn.
The proposed goal is to make recommendations practical, economical, and aligned with current nutrition science while increasing nutrition security and making the program more appealing for current and potential participants.
“USA Rice believes this proposed rule misses the mark,” said Michael Klein, USA Rice vice president of domestic promotion & communications. “Our major concern is that these changes, if implemented, would have a detrimental impact on the FNS stated goals.”
Due to these concerns, USA Rice submitted official comments pointing out the range of consequences that would occur with the elimination of fortified cold breakfast cereals and fortified infant cereal from the program.
“The revisions to the breakfast cereal category, however well-intentioned, may negatively impact both WIC participants and the overall success of the WIC program,” said Hannah Kalet, a registered dietitian who advises USA Rice on healthcare and nutrition. “As the largest contributor of iron and folate within the WIC food package, fortified non-whole grain cereals provide crucial nutrients and can serve as a vehicle for consumption of other nutritious foods to help establish healthful meal patterns. Additionally, fortified rice cereal plays an important role in infants meeting nutrient needs and the removal of these options could cause a shortfall in iron intake and lead to detrimental nutritional consequences like iron-deficiency anemia.”
The USA Rice comments highlighted the range of nutritional benefits for WIC participants provided by U.S.-grown rice in all forms along with the role rice products play in contributing to healthy dietary patterns. The comments also demonstrate how rice advances equity of the program due to its affordability, accessibility, cultural significance, and broad acceptance among participants.
USA Rice urged the USDA to maintain key fortified non-whole grain cereals in order to meet specific nutritional needs of participants and in consideration of personal, cultural, or special dietary preferences.
“At the end of the day, rice is safe, nutritious, widely available, affordable, and is an important staple in culturally diverse diets,” said Kalet. “By eliminating fortified non-whole grain cereals, certain nutritional and allergy needs will not be met and WIC participants will be left with limited options that aren’t as accessible, affordable, or culturally preferred. FNS must take this into consideration as they review and finalize this rule.”