This letter serves as notice to all WIC state agencies that effective June 1, 2024, the Secretary of Agriculture has determined that a Supply Chain Disruption exists in WIC state agencies with Gerber infant formula contracts.
On April 18, 2024, FNS published the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): Revisions in the WIC Food Packages final rule. Through this policy memorandum, FNS formally describes the timeline and parameters for implementation of the provisions of the final rule.
FNS is communicating the following guidance to remind WIC state agencies and WIC authorized vendors of our ongoing commitment to ensure the safety of infant formula purchased in the WIC program, and to prevent stolen infant formula from being purchased with WIC benefits.
USDA intends to use all available program flexibilities and contingencies to serve our program participants across our 15 nutrition programs. We have already begun to issue waivers to ease program operations and protect the health of participants.
On June 30, 2023, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service will complete the final phase of "Unwinding Infant Formula Flexibilities in WIC" as outlined in WIC Policy Memorandum #2023-3.