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Rebates allow more people to participate in WIC

  • by Economic Research Service
  • 9/12/2011
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  • WIC Program
A chart showing the amount of WIC participants, years 1974 to 2008.

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USDA's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is the largest purchaser of infant formula in the U.S. Each State awards a sole-source contract to a formula manufacturer to provide its product to WIC participants. In exchange, the manufacturer provides the State with a large rebate (averaging about 85 percent of the wholesale price) for each can of formula purchased through the program. In fiscal year 2009, WIC received $1.9 billion in rebates from formula manufacturers, supporting almost 25 percent of the WIC caseload that year. This chart is from the September 2011 issue of Amber Waves magazine.

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