2024 marks the 50th anniversary of WIC! To celebrate, we are sharing 5 fun facts about WIC each month (February-November) to finish the year with a total of 50 fun facts.
Bookmark this page and check back each month for more facts about WIC!
Fun Facts About WIC
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- WIC is effective at improving nutrient intake for preschoolers.
- Pineville, Kentucky (pop. 1,700) was the country’s first WIC site in 1974.
- WIC supplemental foods in 1974 included infant formula, milk, cheese, eggs, infant and adult cereals, and fruit juice.
- WIC serves participants in all 50 states, 33 tribes, D.C., and 5 territories with roughly 10,000 clinics.
Children enrolled in WIC are more likely to be up to date on immunizations.
- WIC serves about half of all infants born in the United States.
- WIC decreases the incidence of iron deficiency anemia in children.
- Children of mothers who participate in WIC have been shown to have improved vocabulary scores.
- WIC participation has been shown to improve children’s growth rates.
- WIC reduces fetal deaths and infant mortality.