A: No, it is not a violation if you choose to purchase less or none of the WIC foods prescribed to you.

Q: Can I replace foods I don’t use with another food?

A: A few substitutions are allowed for some foods. Contact your WIC local agency to discuss your options and to have your food benefits changed. No substitutions may be made at the store.

Q: May I feed my WIC foods or my child’s WIC foods to other members in my household?

A: The WIC foods are meant only for the person who was issued the benefits. If those in your home receiving WIC benefits do not eat a certain WIC-provided food, either do not get it at the store or ask your WIC local agency staff to remove it from your benefits.

Q: What should I do if I reduce or stop breastfeeding?

A: Contact your WIC local agency. You will meet with a nutritionist and discuss the options available to you.

Q: Will my benefits roll over to the next month if they are not used?

A: No. Any WIC food benefits not purchased that month will not carry over to the next month.

• Use the “WIC Stores” button in the WICShopper app.
• Look for a “Missouri WIC Authorized Retailer” sign.

WIC Shopping

• Use your WIC Shopping List and WIC Approved Food List when shopping.
• The WICShopper app can help you identify WIC-approved foods and understand your available food benefits.
• Shop only at authorized WIC retailers that are identified with the decal.
• Some retailers have a designated WIC checkout lane.
• Always use your WIC card first if you are using SNAP, credit, debit or cash to pay for other things in your transaction.
• Tell the cashier you are using your WIC card.
• The cashier will scan each item.
• Give the cashier any manufacturer coupon or in-store promotions (e.g., buy one get one, buy one get one reduced, transaction discounts, store loyalty, cents-off).
• Swipe your card.
• Enter your 4-digit PIN.
• The cashier will give you a WIC redemption receipt showing what will be removed from your benefits with this purchase. Make sure it is correct.
• Press accept on the PIN pad if the redemption is correct. Press decline if there is a problem.
• If your fruit and vegetable purchase total is more than your cash value benefit amount, you can pay the difference in another form of payment such as SNAP, cash, credit or debit.
• The cashier will give you a WIC receipt. Make sure you have your card and receipt when you leave the store.
• Unused benefits will not carry over to the next month.

A: Messages are:

• Allowed – This item is allowed for Missouri WIC! One thing to know is you might see an item is allowed, but it’s not part of your WIC food benefits, so you can’t buy it with WIC. For example, a one year old child gets whole milk. If you don’t have a one-year-old child in your family, whole milk won’t be part of your WIC food benefits, and you won’t be able to buy whole milk at the register. Until WIC benefits link to the WICShopper app, this “allowed” message may not apply to your family’s benefits.
• Not a WIC item – This means Missouri WIC hasn’t approved this item. If you think you should be able to buy this food with WIC food benefits, let us know by using the “I couldn’t buy this!” button in this app.
• Unable to identify – This means the app can’t determine if the item is WIC-eligible. This could be due to not having connectivity in the store. Try connecting to WiFi or finding a spot in the store where you get better service.

Q: I tried scanning fresh fruits and vegetables.  Either they don’t scan or they come up as not allowed. Why?

A: The app can’t scan certain barcodes on fresh fruits and vegetables or sometimes the stores use their own packaging.

A:  “I couldn’t buy this!” lets you tell WIC when a food item you’re trying to buy is denied at the register. When you use, “I couldn’t buy this!” in the WICShopper app, the WIC state agency will get a notice.  The WIC state agency will review all items submitted and work with stores to make allowed foods available to you!

Disclaimer

All information contained within the Department of Health and Senior Service website is intended for educational purposes only and is not to be used for diagnosis or treatment. The information is provided to further the understanding of WIC nutrition and related matters. Consumers should never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something they may have seen on this site. Nutritionists, physicians, and other health care professionals are encouraged to consult other sources and confirm information contained on this site. References to any non-governmental entity, product, service, or source of information that may be contained in this site should not be considered an endorsement, either direct or implied, by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Additionally, the Department cannot be held responsible for information contained on other sites to which its website may be linked. If any offensive information is found on these sites, we would appreciate immediate notification by email.

Nondiscrimination (English)

Updated NDS April 2025

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

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 State or local Agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/general-information/staff-offices/office-assistant-secretary-civil-rights/how-file-program-discrimination-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:

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

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3) email: [email protected].

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Nondiscrimination (Spanish)

De acuerdo con la ley federal de derechos civiles y las normas y políticas de derechos civiles del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA), esta institución tiene prohibido discriminar por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, religión, sexo, discapacidad, edad, estado civil, estado familiar o parental, ingresos derivados de un programa de asistencia pública, creencias políticas o represalias o retaliación por actividades previas de derechos civiles.

Las personas con discapacidad que requieren medios alternos de comunicación para obtener información sobre el programa (por ejemplo, Braille, letra grande, cinta de audio, lenguaje de señas americano (ASL), etc.) deben comunicarse con la agencia estatal o local que administra el programa o con el USDA a través del Servicio de Retransmisión de Telecomunicaciones al 711 (voz y TTY). Además, la información sobre el programa puede estar disponible en otros idiomas que no sean el inglés.

Para presentar una queja por discriminación en el programa, completo el formulario de queja por discriminación en el programa del USDA, AD-3027, que se encuentra en línea en https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/general-information/staff-offices/office-assistant-secretary-civil-rights/how-file-program-discrimination-complaint y en cualquier oficina del USDA o escriba una carta dirigida al USDA y proporcione en la carta toda la información solicitada en el formulario. Para solicitar una copia del formulario de queja, llame al (866) 632-9992. Envíe su formulario o carta completo al USDA mediante:

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

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3) correo electrónico: [email protected].

Esta entidad es un proveedor que brinda igualdad de oportunidades.