Mothers, children on state assistance program can no longer buy 2 percent milk

OLYMPIA -- Impoverished mothers and children on the governmental assistance program WIC will no longer be able to purchase 2 percent or whole milk,  Washington State's health department announced Tuesday.

The change going into effect this month is to better align the program with governmental health guidelines intended to decrease overall obesity rates in the state, the Washington State Department of Health said. Clients of the state's Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program can now only buy 1 percent or nonfat milk.

"One percent and nonfat milk have the same nutrients as 2 percent and whole milk; the only difference is the amount of fat," Cathy Franklin, nutrition coordinator for WIC, said. "This will be new for some families, but we're giving lots of support and information to help them make the change."

Children ages 1 to 2 can get whole milk, along with women and children who are prescribed 2 percent or whole milk by their health care provider, officials said.

WIC is intended to provide assistance to pregnant women, breastfeeding or postpartum, and children up to five whose family's income is at or below 185 percent poverty level. The program currently serves more than 300,000 women and children in the state each year.

For more information on the new restrictions, click here.