The US Natural Products Association says that widening access to supplements could provide “relief to 25 million Americans living in food deserts – areas without access to fresh and nutritious foods”.
The NPA backs new legislation introduced by Congressman Dave Brat that would expand access to multivitamins and minerals for purchase as part of the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC).
“Why should you be able to buy Dora the Explorer cereal but not a Nature’s Way Children’s Chewable vitamin,” said Dan Fabricant, president and CEO of the NPA. “Expanding WIC to include multivitamins would create an oasis for the 25 million Americans living in food deserts and make it easier for people to provide healthier lives for their families.”
“Why should you be able to buy Dora the Explorer cereal but not a Nature’s Way Children’s Chewable vitamin”
Since 1978, the WIC Supplemental Food Program has supported low-income, at risk pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age five. The WIC program provides Federal grants to States for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education. The program has grown significantly in its nearly 40-years of existence, and it now serves approximately 8 million participants.
The “WIC Improvement Act”, H.R. 3529, woud expand WIC to give these low-income families equal opportunity for access to low-cost, high nutrient alternatives, like multivitamins and minerals.
The Natural Products Association (NPA) recently launched a campaign calling for Congress to support multivitamins to be eligible in the WIC special supplemental nutrition program.