Review of WIC Food Packages: Improving Balance and Choice: Final Report (2017)
Chapter: Appendix H: Kosher and Halal Substitution Options
TABLE H-1 Authorization of Kosher and Halal Substitutions
| Substitutions Offered for WIC Foods | WIC State Agencies Authorizing Substitutions (%) | Nationwide WIC Participants Covered by the Option (%)* |
|---|---|---|
| Kosher | 17 | 34 |
| Kosher and Halal | 6 | 19 |
| No Substitutions | 42 | 27 |
| Not Specified | 36 | 19 |
NOTES: Results were obtained from a database of WIC food lists for all 90 state agencies as of October 2009, as well as foods that were approved in the period immediately preceding implementation of the Interim Rule. WIC state plans, vendor manuals, and grocery shopping guides were also reviewed. The most recent WIC Food Packages Policy Options Study (USDA/FNS, 2015) did not quantify the number of state agencies allowing Kosher and Halal options nationally. The report indicated that 7 percent of state agencies covering 21.3 percent of WIC participants allowed Kosher milk.
* Percentages represent the number of WIC participants linked to the state agencies offering the option.
SOURCE: USDA/FNS, 2011; with update from personal communication with N. Cole, Mathematica, March 17, 2015.
TABLE H-2 WIC ITFPS-2: Percentage of Mothers Who Have Religious or Lifestyle Beliefs That Influence Feeding, by Belief
| Belief | Study Mothers % (SE) |
|---|---|
| Halal | 0.72 (0.30) |
| Kosher | 0.37 (0.16) |
| Vegetarian | 0.37 (0.10) |
| Vegan | 0.09 (0.06) |
| Other | 2.00 (0.25) |
| Unweighted N* | 2,807 |
| Weighted N | 442,574 |
NOTES: Data were collected at month 13 of the study. ITFPS-2 = WIC Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices Study 2; SE = standard error. Two cases indicated multiple responses. One respondent indicated both Vegetarian and Vegan; only Vegan is displayed. Another respondent indicated Kosher and Other; only Kosher is displayed.
* N is the number of mothers who completed interviews at month 13.
SOURCE: Personal communication, K. Castellanos-Brown, USDA-FNS, April 27, 2016.
REFERENCES
USDA/FNS (U.S. Department of Agriculture/Food and Nutrition Service). 2011. WIC food packages policy options study, final report. Alexandria, VA: USDA/FNS. http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/WICFoodPackageOptions.pdf (accessed December 21, 2016).
USDA/FNS. 2015. WIC food packages policy options II, final report. Alexandria, VA: USDA/FNS. http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic-food-package-policy-options-ii (accessed December 21, 2016).
