WIC Cash Value Voucher Redemption Behavior in Jefferson County, Alabama, and Its Association With Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

Abstract

Regular WIC CVV redemption was associated with some produce shopping behaviors and increased FV consumption and among WIC participants in Jefferson County, Alabama.

100% Juice, Fruit, and Vegetable Intake Among Children in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children and Nonparticipants

“…38–40 The CVB/CVV helps address this barrier and has been associated with significant improvements in overall diet quality and vegetable consumption. 26,41 Hence, WIC could further improve affordability and consumption of fruits and vegetables by re-allocating funding from juice towards the CVB/CVV. This would allow the program to remain cost-neutral while increasing participants’ ability to purchase fruits and vegetables.…”

Associations between Governmental Policies to Improve the Nutritional Quality of Supermarket Purchases and Individual, Retailer, and Community Health Outcomes: An Integrative Review

“…Forty-four studies assessed the association between the 2009 WIC food package revisions and availability of foods and beverages in supermarkets; purchases, redemptions, or dietary intake among WIC participants; obesity in early childhood; perinatal and birth outcomes; or outcomes related to breastfeeding [ 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 , 118 , 119 , 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 , 124 , 125 , 126 , 127 , 128 , 129 , 130 , 131 , 132 , 133 , 134 , 135 , 136 , 137 , 138 , 139 , 140 , 141 , 142 , 143 , 144 , 145 , 146 , 147 , 148 , 149 , 150 , 151 , 152 , 153 ]. There is consistent evidence of an association between the WIC food package revisions and improvements in household food purchases and dietary intake among both adults and children [ 111 , 114 , 115 , 116 ...…”

“…Specifically, revisions to the food package are associated with improvements in total diet quality, increases in fruit, vegetables, whole grains, dietary fiber, and low-fat dairy, and reductions in full-fat dairy, saturated fat, and juice (with no evidence of complete substitution to other sugary drinks). The cash-value voucher, in particular, increased the perceived value of the program for many participants, although voucher redemption varied across communities and may be limited in some areas by poor access to fresh fruits and vegetables or negative store experiences [ 112 , 113 , 117 , 123 , 128 , 131 , 132 , 146 ]. Impacts of the revisions on breastfeeding are mixed, with some studies showing increases in breastfeeding initiation [ 129 , 153 ], others showing no effect [ 118 ], and none finding a relationship with breastfeeding at six months [ 129 , 153 ].…”

The neighborhood food environment modifies the effect of the 2009 WIC food package change on childhood obesity in Los Angeles County, California

“…There is mixed evidence on the relationship between the food environment, including prices of and access to foods, and food purchasing behaviors [34,35]. In a recent study of WIC-participating women, there was no association between distance to the nearest grocery store or supermarket and redemption of the cash value vouchers for fruits and vegetables [36]. However, previous research has found that individuals who live closer to outlets that sell fresh produce consume more fruits and vegetables [37] and individuals who live in proximity to unhealthy food outlets consume fewer fruits and vegetables [38].…”

“…A study conducted in Wisconsin following the implementation of vouchers for fresh fruits and vegetables found that only 45% of WIC participants were redeeming the full dollar amount and another 32% part of the dollar amount, implying that 23% of participants were not redeeming any of the voucher value [41]. A more recent study found that only 63% of WIC participating women in Jefferson County, Alabama, were regular redeemers of the vouchers, and that regular redeemers were more likely to purchase fruits and vegetables at grocery stores and consumed more fruits and vegetables than participants who irregularly or never redeemed the vouchers [36]. The provision of vouchers alone will not increase the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables if individuals are unable to find a store in which to purchase fruits and vegetables.…”