Abstract: This five volume report evaluates the WIC program and its activities. Volume I summarizes the results of the overall study, volumes II and III contain the technical report while volumes IV and V contain the appendixes. Topics include: objectives and design of the WIC program; effect of the WIC program on the diet of women, infants, and children; effect of WIC benefits on fetal and childhood growth, development, and survival; effect of WIC program participation on use of health services and health promoting behavior; and effect of WIC benefits on family food expenditures.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) began 40 years ago as a pilot program and has since grown to serve over 8 million pregnant women, and mothers of and their infants and young children. Today the program serves more than a quarter of the pregnant women and half of the infants in the United States, at an annual cost of about $6.2 billion. Through its contribution to the nutritional needs of pregnant, breastfeeding, and post-partum women; infants; and children under 5 years of age; this federally supported nutrition assistance program is integral to meeting national nutrition policy goals for a significant portion of the U.S. population. To assure the continued success of the WIC, Congress mandated that the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reevaluate the program's food packages every 10 years. In 2014, the USDA asked the Institute of Medicine to undertake this reevaluation to ensure continued alignment with the goals of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. In this third report, the committee provides its final analyses, recommendations, and the supporting rationale.