Special WIC Food Updates

Texas WIC has temporarily added more options for the milk, bread, rice, pasta and eggs that you can buy at the grocery store.

Special WIC Food Updates

 

Changes to WIC Foods

 

Attention WIC Shoppers. Check out what’s new with WIC foods.

Baby and Toddler Formula – Updated 3/20/2023 at 9:40 a.m.

Important Update: There is a recall of certain lots of 12.4 ounce, 30.6 ounce and 19.4 ounce Gerber Good Start SoothePro powdered infant formulas. If you purchased Gerber Good Start SoothePro, please visit https://bit.ly/gerber-recall for more information.


Mead Johnson, the maker of Enfamil, is working to increase the supply of Enfamil products in Texas so they will be available for WIC families. On March 14, USDA extended the option for alternative brand milk-based formulas to ensure families have access to formula. Texas WIC will continue to offer some temporary alternative brands for certain formulas through the end of April.  

  • If Enfamil Infant or Gentlease is listed under Active Benefits and is not available at the store, WIC has temporary options through the end of April. For an updated list of options, click on your formula below. 
  • If Enfamil A.R. or Enfamil Reguline are not available at the store, contact your WIC office to discuss formula options. 

Check the formula and size below to see the temporary, alternative options you can get. 

If you can’t find any of these brands or sizes at the store, contact your WIC office. You will need to return to the WIC office to have your benefits updated.  

How to adjust my baby’s formula
 

Important Recall Update

There is a recall on some 12.9 oz containers of Enfamil ProSobee Simply Plant-Based powdered formula. If you purchased ProSobee, please visit https://www.enfamil.com/prosobee-recall-2023/ for more information. 

  • plus sign minus sign Enfamil Infant Powder 12.5 oz

    Through April, if Enfamil Infant powder is not available, you can get:

    • Gerber Good Start Gentle Powder 12.7 oz
    • Similac Advance Powder 12.4 oz
  • plus sign minus sign Enfamil Gentlease Powder 12.4 oz

    Through April, if Enfamil Gentlease powder is not available, you can get:

    • Gerber Good Start SoothePro Powder 12.4 oz
    • Similac Sensitive Powder 12.5 oz
    • Similac Total Comfort Powder 12.6 oz
  • plus sign minus sign Enfamil A.R. Powder 12.9 oz or Enfamil Reguline Powder 12.4 oz

    If Enfamil A. R. powder or Enfamil Reguline powder is not available, contact your WIC office to discuss formula options. You will need to return to the WIC office to update your card.

  • plus sign minus sign Enfamil Gentlease 27.7 oz

    Through April, if Enfamil Gentlease 27.7 oz is on your WIC card but is not available, you can get:

    • Gerber Good Start SoothePro Powder 30.6 oz
    • HEB Baby Complete Comfort Powder 29.8 oz at HEB
    • Parent’s Choice Complete Comfort Powder 29.8 oz at Walmart
    • Parent’s Choice Complete Comfort Premium Powder 29.8 oz at Walmart
    • Parent’s Choice Gentle Powder 34 oz at Walmart
    • Tippy Toes Gentle Powder 33.2 oz at Brookshire
    • Up & Up Complete Comfort Powder 29.8 oz at Target
    • Up & Up Complete Comfort Premium Powder 29.8 oz at Target
    • Up & Up Gentle Powder 33.2 oz at Target

    If you do not already have this size, you will need to return to the WIC office to have your benefits updated to larger can size options. 

  • plus sign minus sign Enfamil Infant 29.4 oz

    Through April, if you have Enfamil Infant 29.4 oz on your WIC card but it is not available at the store, you can get:

    • Gerber Good Start GentlePro Powder 32 oz
    • Gerber Good Start Gentle Powder 27 oz

    If you do not already have this size, you will need to return to the WIC office to have your benefits updated to larger can size options. 

  • plus sign minus sign Similac Alimentum Powder 12.1 oz, Nestle Extensive HA Powder 14.1oz or Enfamil Nutramigen Powder 12.6 oz

    If you can’t find Similac Alimentum, Nestle Extensive HA or Enfamil Nutramigen powdered formula contact your health care provider to determine the best alternative for your baby.    

    This is a hypoallergenic formula and is prescribed for a specific reason. Your doctor can help you choose a new formula to meet your baby’s medical needs. You will need a new prescription and to contact your WIC office to update your benefits.  

    If you are prescribed Generic Hypoallergenic Powder 12.6 oz on your WIC card you can get:    

    • Comforts Hypoallergenic Powder 12.6 oz at Kroger  
    • HEB Baby Hypoallergenic Powder 12.6 oz at HEB  
    • Parent’s Choice Hypoallergenic Powder 12.6 oz at Walmart  
    • Tippy Toes Hypoallergenic 12.6 oz at Brookshire  

    If you are prescribed Generic Hypoallergenic Powder 19.8 oz on your WIC card you can get:    

    • HEB Baby Hypoallergenic Powder 19.8 oz at HEB  
    • Parent’s Choice Hypoallergenic Powder 19.8 oz at Walmart  
    • Signature Care Hypoallergenic Powder 19.8 oz at Albertsons, Randalls, Tom Thumb and Fiesta  
    • Up & Up Hypoallergenic Powder 19.8 oz at Target  

    If you are prescribed Generic Hypoallergenic Powder 27.8 oz on your WIC card you can get:    

    • Parent’s Choice Hypoallergenic Powder 27.8 oz at Walmart  

Information for WIC Vendors

Download the list of alternative powdered formulas to find updated universal product codes (UPCs) for temporary items that are currently uploaded to the Texas WIC’s approved product list. Texas WIC will continue to update this list as more options become available.

Temporary Alternative Powdered Formulas (PDF, 52 KB)

New WIC Foods

Texas WIC now offers more choices than ever before. Here are some new foods that are available starting October 1, 2022.

Yogurt

  • New 32 oz. (1 quart) Greek yogurt options are available.
  • Women and children 2-5 get low-fat or nonfat yogurt and one-year-old children get whole milk yogurt.
  • Check your shopping guide to see which brands and flavors are WIC-approved.

Eggs

  • Brown and organic eggs in dozen-sized cartons are now available.
  • Choose any brand of eggs.

Peanut Butter

  • Organic peanut butter in 16 to 18 oz. jars is now available.
  • Choose any brand of peanut butter.
  • Make sure it is labeled peanut butter and not peanut butter spread, as spreads are not WIC-eligible.

Whole Wheat Pasta

  • You can now choose any brand of whole wheat pasta in 16 oz. packages.

Tortillas

  • You can now choose any brand of whole wheat or corn tortillas in 16 oz. packages

Infant Cereal

  • Additional brands of infant cereal are now available in 8 oz. or 16 oz. containers.
  • Choose from Beech-Nut, Earth’s Best or Gerber.
  • Items with added ingredients, such as fruit, are not WIC-approved.

Instant Oatmeal Packets

  • Quaker Instant Oatmeal Packets in 11.8 oz and 23.7 oz. are now available and count as breakfast cereal benefits.
  • 16 oz. cannisters of oatmeal are still available as a choice for your whole grain benefit.

Fully breastfeeding women get canned fish from WIC, and there will be even more to choose from starting August 1, 2022.

Chunk Light Tuna

  • Choose any brand in a 2.5 to 12 oz. can or pouch
  • Packed in water, oil or vegetable broth

Pink Salmon

  • Choose any brand in a 2.5 to 14.75 oz. can or pouch
  • Packed in water or oil

Sardines

  • Choose any brand in a 4 to 15 oz. can
  • Packed in water, oil, tomato sauce, hot sauce, mustard or with lemon

Mackerel (Atlantic, Pacific Chub or Jack)

  • Choose any brand in a 4 to 15 oz. can
  • Packed in water, oil or with lemon

Not WIC Approved

  • Flavored, albacore, tongol, yellowfin or wild skipjack tuna.
  • Flavored, smoked, sockeye or red salmon.
  • King mackerel.
  • Premium brands or items with olives, peppers or jalapeños.

Fruit and Vegetable Benefit

A new temporary fruit and vegetable dollar amount increase is available through September 30, 2023. This extension has different dollar amounts based on your category. Eligible clients will receive the following:

For example, if you are pregnant and have two children (ages 1-5) receiving WIC, you will get $94 ($44 mom + $25 child + $25 child = $94) each month in November, December and January to buy fruit and vegetables. 

You will see this new amount on your shopping list under your benefit amount. If you already have benefits on your card for November, December and January contact your local WIC office for a time to update your benefits. 

On October 1, the benefit amount will return to $11 for pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women and $9 for children 1 to 5 years old. This means that all clients who receive benefits before September 30 will get the higher amounts for the entire month of September.

You can use this fruit and vegetable benefit to buy fruits and vegetables in the following forms: 

  • Fresh
  • Frozen
  • Cans, glass jars and plastic containers

You can choose organic or regular, single or mixed items in any package size. Learn how to make the most out of your fruit and vegetables benefits with this quick video. For more information on what you can get with WIC benefits download the latest version of the shopping app on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store for the shopping guide and latest WIC information. 

myTexasWIC Shopping App Update

Download the latest version of the shopping app on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store for the shopping guide and latest WIC information.  

As a reminder, if an item scans as WIC Approved, make sure that you have active benefits on your food package for these items.

Important Scanning Tip 

If the store is sold out of a pink sticker item and you scan a replacement item and the app says, “not WIC approved,” ask a store staff member for assistance. You may still be able to purchase the item with WIC because of the food flexibilities.


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