Supplemental WIC foods must meet federal nutrition requirements, as outlined in 7 CFR Part 246, and contain established amounts of various nutrients, such as iron, calcium, protein, vitamin A, and/or vitamin C. WIC foods are specifically chosen and are designed to reduce complications of pregnancy due to poor nutrition and to promote the healthiest possible birth, growth, and development of children.
A. Food Categories & Sub-Categories
The table below identifies all possible food categories for which participants may be prescribed. If there are specific sub-categories that limit what WIC shoppers may redeem within the category, they are specified below. If no sub-categories are listed, any WIC-eligible product within that category can be redeemed by a WIC shopper prescribed for that specific category.
Detailed information about each food category's nutritional and brand requirements can be found on the Illinois WIC Authorized Food List, posted on the Illinois Department of Human Services website, and included as Addendum 1 to this handbook.
Food Categories
02 - Cheese
03 - Eggs
Null
05 - Breakfast Cereal
Null
06 - Legumes
- Peanut Butter
- Beans (Dry or Canned)
08 - Canned Fish
Null
09 - Infant Cereal
Null
12 - Infant Fruits & Vegetables
Null
13 - Infant Meats
Null
16 - Bread / Whole Grains
Null
19 - Fruits & Vegetables (Fresh, Frozen, and Canned)
Null
31 - Exempt Infant Formula
- (Medically prescribed and exempt infant formula may not be redeemed at vendors in peer groups 3 and 6)
- Subcategory specify the specific formula prescribed
41 - WIC Eligible Nutritionals
- (Medically prescribed and exempt infant formula may not be redeemed at vendors in peer groups 3 and 6)
- Subcategory specify the specific formula prescribed
50 - Yogurt
- Whole Fat
- Non-Fat / Low-fat
51 - Milk - Whole
- Gallon
- Half Gallon
- Lactose-free half-gallon
- Kosher Gallon
- Kosher Half Gallon
- UHT Quart
52 - Milk - Fat Reduced
- Gallon
- Half Gallon
- Lactose-free half-gallon
- Kosher Gallon
- Kosher Half Gallon
- UHT Quart
53 - Juice - 48oz Liquid or 12oz Frozen
Null
54 - Juice - 64oz Liquid
Null
B. Authorized Food List
The Authorized Food List details the foods offered by Illinois WIC and describes the specific brands, flavors, and sizes the Department provides.
The Department strongly recommends keeping a copy of the Food List at each register.
Copies of the list in English and Spanish can be obtained by calling the state WIC office at 844-901-0965 or by emailing DHS.WICVendor@Illinois.gov.
WIC families shop for and buy their WIC foods from WIC-authorized vendors. These vendors are required to stock WIC items in specific varieties, flavors, and sizes to allow WIC families to obtain the most value from their food package.
C. Submitting Product Information for Review
Vendors and manufacturers can submit an item (and Universal Product Code (UPC)) to the Department for review. Items WIC-approved by the department will be added to the APL and made available to the WIC shopper.
If you think a product should be added to the APL, follow these steps so the WIC Nutrition Staff can review the product.
- Verify that the item is a WIC Authorized food based on the criteria of the Approved Food List.
- If an item meets the guidelines and is not on the Approved Food List, complete a UPC Submission request by completing the UPC Submission Form, or for multiple products, you may use the IL WIC UPC Request Spreadsheet. (Addendum 2)
- All submissions must include photos that clearly show the following:
- Nutrition Facts, including ingredients,
- size,
- UPC,
- product name
- brand
- Submit completed forms and photos to DHS.WICFoods@illinois.gov.
Note that product reviews can take up to one month.
