March 2026 Updates to the Colorado WIC Food List
Every 10 years, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) updates the WIC food packages to make sure they meet current nutrition standards and support the health of families. In April 2024, the USDA approved new food rules for WIC based on the latest nutrition science. All WIC programs across the country must follow these new rules by April 2026.
Colorado WIC Implementation
The Colorado WIC Program is introducing these updates in two phases.
Phase One: New Food Packages - Rolled out April 2025
Phase Two: New Food List and Shopping Guide – Coming March 2026
Starting March 1, 2026, Colorado WIC will have a new Food List and Shopping Guide. The Food List will be available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Dari, French, Nepali, and Spanish. These changes follow new USDA food rules and offer more healthy and flexible food choices.
You can preview the new Food List now, but it does not go into effect until March 1, 2026. Please continue using the current Food List until then.
Here’s what to expect:
- Changes to the Colorado WIC Food List:
- New package sizes for more flexibility.
- New items will be added.
- Some items will be removed because they are discontinued, no longer sold in Colorado, or do not meet updated nutrition guidelines.
- New food package options:
- More choices for special diets and personal preferences.
Check out the client handout to learn more!
Frequently Asked Questions
The law requires USDA to review the WIC food packages every 10 years. These updates help ensure that the foods offered in WIC continue to support the health and nutrition needs of women, infants, and young children, while also reflecting current public health guidance and the diverse cultural food preferences of families served by WIC.
In November 2022, USDA published proposed changes to the WIC food packages, that considered:
- Recommendations from the 2017 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) scientific review on updating WIC foods.
- Guidance from the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans for pregnant and breastfeeding individuals, babies, and children under 2.
- The FDA's 2021 Advice about Eating Fish.
- Program administration and how the WIC food packages are meant to be supplemental and designed to fill key nutrition gaps.
USDA invited public feedback through a 90-day comment period and received over 17,000 responses from WIC agencies, WIC clients, health professionals, organizations, and the general public. USDA used this feedback to make changes before finalizing the food rule. A summary of the comments is available.
Yes. Starting March 1, 2026, Colorado WIC will add 18 new cereals to the Food List and Shopping Guide.
Most Americans do not eat enough whole grains, so the updated USDA WIC food rule now requires that at least 75% of cereals on the WIC Food List have a whole grain listed as the first ingredient.
To meet this requirement, 17 of the 18 new cereals are whole grain.
Some yogurts are being removed because they are discontinued or are no longer sold in Colorado.
Other yogurts will be removed because they do not meet the updated nutrition guidelines, which require that all yogurts:
- Have no more than 16 grams of added sugar per cup, and
- Provide at least 2.67 micrograms of vitamin D per cup.
Yes. Starting March 1, 2026, select brands of sunflower seed and almond butter that are nutritionally similar to peanut butter will be added to the Colorado WIC Food List and Shopping Guide. To help manage program costs, only certain brands and types are available.
If you do not eat peanut butter, you can ask about the new sunflower seed or almond butter options at your next WIC visit.
At this time, only a few plant-based milks provide similar levels of protein, calcium, and vitamin D as cow’s milk. Currently, Colorado WIC offers several brands and varieties of soy milk. Starting in March 2026, select pea-based protein and oat milk blend options that meet the updated nutrition guidelines will also be available. These options ensure families get the nutrients needed for healthy growth and development.
If you do not drink cow’s milk, you can ask your WIC staff about adding these options to your March and future benefits.