Issues in Food Assistance-Effects of WIC Participation on Children's Food Consumption

by Victor Oliveira and Ram Chandran

This study compared consumption patterns of WIC children with those of three different comparison groups: eligible nonparticipating children living in non-WIC households, eligible nonparticipating children living in WIC households, and children living in households whose income is too high to be eligible for WIC. The study provides strong evidence that participation in the WIC program increases consumption of at least some types of WIC-approved foods.

Keywords: WIC, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, food packages, WIC-approved foods, Tobit regression analysis, food consumption patterns, child nutrition

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