New analysis of federal data shows the largest single-year decrease in WIC's history. Participation is down in SNAP and the school lunch program too.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children is proven to reduce food insecurity for low-income mothers. But a new report shows that fewer Americans are applying for these benefits, which include food packages for women and children.
The analysis of federal data from the United States Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service found that enrollment in WIC was down 6 percent in 2018—the largest single-year decrease in the program's history. The trend is even more dramatic over time, with participation down 23 percent from its peak in 2010.
Here's what we know about the decline in WIC enrollment.
