| Detailed Objective: In December 2007, USDA revised the food packages of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). These revisions-which must be implemented by October 1, 2009-include a more diverse set of foods acceptable to a culturally diverse clientele, vouchers for fruits and vegetables, additional whole grain foods, and restriction of milk to the lower fat types. This study will use point-of-purchase data from a select set of WIC retailers in Wisconsin to examine the impact of the WIC food package revisions on participant food choices and acceptance of the food package and cost neutrality. The data will be linked to WIC participant demographic files to create analytic files at four distinct periods, one before implementation of the new food packages and three after implementation at 6-month intervals.
The project will also include focus groups with participants who are new to WIC since the food package was revised and with participants familiar with the old food package.
The qualitative data collected from the focus groups will supplement the quantitative results and identify possible reasons or motives behind any observed changes in food choices. |