SHOPPING GUIDE

 

Good food is essential to your health and to the health of your children.

Your eWIC card makes buying what you need easier than ever. You will now use an eWIC card to pick up your WIC foods at approved grocery stores. Here is some important information about eWIC:

At each WIC appointment, you will receive a shopping list that will tell you which and how many of these WIC foods you are allowed to pick up.

Your eWIC card will have a unique account number. WIC will use this number to send your benefits to your account each month.

Your eWIC card contains a magnetic strip that you will swipe through a card reader at the grocery store. Simply swipe your eWIC card and enter your PIN, just like you would with a debit card.

Any WIC benefits you do not use during a benefit cycle do not roll over. They expire. When you have used all your WIC benefits for the month, do not throw the card away. WIC will reload the card.

It is very important that you keep up with your eWIC card so you will be able to pick up your WIC foods when you need them. If you lose your card or it is stolen or damaged, contact customer service immediately at 1-855-897-5897.

You do not need to buy all your WIC foods at once. Simply buy them as you need them. Be mindful of the last day on which you can use your monthly benefit.

Tips for a Successful WIC Shopping Experience

1. Look for shelf tags for WIC-approved items. 

2. Bring the shopping list you received at your WIC appointment or check your benefi t balance before your shopping trip.
3. Bring your eWIC card with you and know your PIN. If you cannot remember your PIN, call customer service at 1-855-897-5897 and change it to something that will be easy to remember.
4. Select the right amount and package size of your WIC foods. The Mississippi WIC Shopping Guide will help you with this. Remember: Not every store will carry all WIC-approved foods.
5. Tell the cashier right away that you will be using an eWIC card.
In most instances, you will be able to scan everything together. At some smaller stores, you may need to separate your WIC foods. Ask your cashier to be sure.
6. If you have a problem at the store, ask to speak with the store manager.
If the issue cannot be resolved at the store, call your local WIC agency, or the state WIC offi ce at (800) 545-6747, to discuss your concerns.
7. Call Conduent customer service at (855) 897-5897 or visit their web portal at
www.WICconnect.com to:
• Report your card as damaged, lost, or stolen
• Change or set your card’s PIN
• Check your benefi t balance

Fresh Fruits & Vegetables

Allowed: 
Any variety of whole or cut fresh fruits or vegetables

Bagged vegetables of any size (for example, carrots or salad greens)

Not Allowed: 

Items for purchase at a salad bar

Bagged lettuce or salad greens
with dressing, croutons, nuts, or dried fruit

Fruit baskets or party trays

Peanuts

Decorative fruits or vegetables (for example, painted pumpkins)

Herbs and spices

Frozen Fruits

Allowed:

Any brand or package size of whole or cut frozen fruits

Not Allowed:

Fruit bars, popsicles, or fruit smoothies

With sugar or other sweeteners (for example, syrup or Splenda)

Frozen Vegetables

Allowed:

Any size or package type

Any plain vegetables or plain vegetable mixtures without white potatoes

Any beans or mixtures with beans or peas (for example, mixed vegetables with lima beans)

Not Allowed:

With pasta, noodles, nuts, rice, cheese, or meat

With butter, oil, sauces, glazes, breading, herbs, or seasonings

Frozen potatoes, sweet potato fries, french fries, hash browns, or shaped potatoes

Canned Tomato Products

Allowed:

Any size

Whole, diced, crushed, or stewed tomatoes

Tomato sauce, paste or puree

Not Allowed:

Herbs or seasonings (for example, onions, chilies, or garlic)

Pizza, lasagna, or spaghetti sauce

Soup, salsa, or ketchup

With any oil

Canned Fruits

Allowed:

Packed in water, juice, or fruit juice concentrate

Any plain fruit or plain fruit mixture

Any container type

Any brand

Applesauce (no sugar added or unsweetened varieties only)

Not Allowed: 

Cranberry sauce, pie filling With any syrup (for example, heavy, light,
naturally light, or extra light)

With added sugar (for example,sweetened juice, fruit gel, or nectar)

With artificial sweetener (for example, Splenda or NutraSweet)

Canned Vegetables

Allowed:

Any size

Plain vegetables and plain vegetable mixtures including green (sweet) peas and green beans, snap beans, wax beans, and yellow beans

Not Allowed:

Pickles and pickled vegetables (for example, sauerkraut)

Creamed vegetables (for example, creamed corn)

Baked beans, pork and beans, and refried beans

Chopped garlic in oil

Soup, ketchup, relish, and olives

Canned white potatoes

*Canned beans, peas, and lentils

 

*Canned beans, peas, and lentils are allowed in the Beans, Peas, and Peanut Butter catagory. These are not part of the canned vegetable allowance.

Select only the cereals pictured. Select 11 oz.–36 oz. boxes or bags only. Buy any combination that does not go over 36 ounces.

 

Pictures are subject to change. All eligible brands may not be pictured. Products may be added so check the MS WIC app for updates.

 

 

Allowed: Declared store brand of any of the following at time of purchase.

• Fat-free
• 1% low-fat
• Whole (for children 12–23 months only)
• Chocolate
• Lactose-free/reduced
• Calcium enriched

Allowed only when specified:

• Evaporated milk (canned), 12 oz. can, Carnation and Pet brands only
• Dry milk (powdered), 9.6 oz. box
• Ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk, quart

Not Allowed:

• Acidophilus-treated milk
• Condensed milk
• Organic milk
• Goat milk
• Nut milk
• Rice milk

Select any combination of gallon and half-gallon sizes. Quarts are available only if specified.

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Soy Beverage

Allowed only when specified.
These brands and varieties are available in half-gallon, refrigerated cartons:

• 8th Continent (Original or Vanilla only)
• Silk (Original only)

Not Allowed:

• DHA
• Omega-3
• Fat-free
• Light
• Organic
• Quarts or twin packs

Pictures are subject to change. All eligible brands may not be pictured. Products may be added so check the MS WIC app for updates.

Yogurt

Allowed:

• Choose from the listed brands and flavors.
• Must be 1 quart (32 oz.) containers, except for Yoplait Go-Gurt. See approved sizes for Yoplait Go-Gurt.

Not Allowed:

• Organic
• Drinkable
• Mix-in ingredients (for example, granola, candy pieces, honey, or nuts)

Nonfat or lowfat yogurt (0%–2% fat) for women and for children two years of age or older.

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Cheese

Allowed:

1 pound (16 oz.) package of the declared store brand of any of the following varieties.

Choose any of the following varieties.
• Processed American
• Cheddar
• Colby
• Monterey Jack
• Colby-Jack
• Mozzarella
• Swiss

May be block, hoop, cubed, shredded, sliced, or string.
May be low fat, low cholesterol, or low sodium, but you are not limited to these options.

Not Allowed:

• Cheese food, spread, or product
• Mixes, sticks, or crumbles
• Peppers or other added ingredients
• Cheese from the deli or cheese shop

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Eggs

Allowed:

• Declared store brand
• Grade-A, large
• One-dozen carton

Not Allowed:

• Brown eggs
• Specialty eggs
• Eggland’s Best

Pictures are subject to change. All eligible brands may not be pictured. Products may be added so check the MS WIC app for update

Select only the following size(s). Must be 100% juice, without added sweeteners. May contain added calcium. No fruit punch, fruit drink, or drink ades.

Pictures are subject to change. All eligible brands may not be pictured. Products may be added so check the MS WIC app for updates.

Whole Wheat Pasta

Allowed:

• 1 pound (16 oz.) package
• Any brand or shape
• 100% whole wheat flour and/or whole durum wheat flour must be the only flours listed on the ingredients list

Not Allowed:

• Organic
• Gluten free
• Pasta made from rice, quinoa, flax, corn, or vegetables
• Added sugars, fats, oils, or salt

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Whole Grain Tortillas

1 pound (16 oz.) package. Choose whole wheat or corn tortillas from the brands pictured below.

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Whole Grain or Whole Wheat Bread

Whole wheat and whole grain breads. 1 pound (16 oz.) package.
Select only the breads pictured below.

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Whole Grain Rice

Allowed:

• 1 pound (14-16 oz.) bag or box.
• Any brand of regular, instant, or boil-in-bag rice.

Not Allowed:

• Seasoned
• White rice
• Frozen
• Gourmet blends
• Organic

Pictures are subject to change. All eligible brands may not be pictured. Products may be added so check the MS WIC app for updates.

For women who exclusively breastfeed.

Canned Tuna

Allowed:

Any brand light tuna, chunk style, packed in water.
5, 6, and 7.5 oz. cans.

Not Allowed:

No smoked, solid white, or other flavorings.

Canned Salmon

Allowed:

Any brand pink salmon.
5, 6, 7.5, and 14.75 oz. cans.

Not Allowed:

No red or sockeye.

 

Beans and Peas

Allowed:

• Black beans
• Black-eyed peas
• Garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
• Great northern beans
• Kidney beans
• Fava and mung beans
• Pinto beans
• Split peas
• Lentils
• White beans (navy and pea beans)
• Mature lima beans (butter beans)

Canned Beans

Allowed:

1 pound (15-16 oz.) can, any brand.

Not Allowed:

• Organic
• Added sugar, fat, oil, or meat
• Soups or baked beans
• *Green (sweet) peas, green beans, snap beans, wax beans, and yellow beans

*Green (sweet) peas, green beans, snap beans, wax beans, and yellow beans are allowed as part of the Canned Vegetable allowance, pg 8-9. These are not part of the bean, pea, and peanut butter allowance.

Dried Beans

1 pound (16 oz.) bag, any brand.

Peanut Butter

Allowed:

1 pound (16 – 18 oz.) container, any brand, may be creamy, crunchy, or extra crunchy.

Not Allowed:

No whipped, spreads, omega-3, organic, or combinations with jelly, honey, marshmallows, chocolate, or similar ingredients.

Infant Formula

The WIC Shopping List shows the brand, size, form (powder, concentrate), and quantity to purchase.
No substitutions allowed.

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Dry Infant Cereal

8 oz. containers of Gerber or Beech-Nut.

Allowed:

• Oatmeal
• Rice
• Multigrain
• Whole Wheat

Not Allowed:

No organic, DHA, fruit, or other additives.

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Infant Fruits and Vegetables

Select any second-stage, single ingredient infant fruits or vegetables, only in these sizes and brands.

Allowed:

• Beech Nut Nothing Artificial Added – 4 oz. jar
• Gerber – 8 oz (2 packs of 4 oz.)

You can buy infant fruits and vegetables in any combination of packages or jars that add up to the total ounces (oz.) you receive per month.

Not Allowed:

No added sugar, starches, salt, DHA, or organic.

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Infant Meats

(for exclusively breastfed infants)

Includes chicken, turkey, ham, and beef.

Allowed:

Beech Nut Stage 1
• Meat with broth
• 2.5 oz. container

Gerber 2nd Foods
• Meat with gravy
• 2.5 oz. container

Not Allowed:

No organic, meat and vegetable, or meat and pasta mixtures. No DHA. No meat sticks.

Pictures are subject to change. All eligible brands may not be pictured. Products may be added so check the MS WIC app for updates.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

Fax: (202) 690-7442

Email: [email protected]

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

We want to make sure you have all the information you need for your trip to an approved grocery store.