What Does WIC Cover in PA: Food List, Formula, and Screenings

Pennsylvania’s WIC program covers a defined list of nutritious foods — milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs, cereal, whole grain breads and pastas, 100% juice, fruits and vegetables, legumes, peanut butter, canned fish, tofu, plant-based milk, infant formula, and baby food — along with health screenings, nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support, and seasonal farmers market checks. What does WIC cover in PA depends partly on who you are in the household: pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, postpartum women, infants, and children each receive a different food package sized to their nutritional needs.

The Approved Food List

PA WIC publishes an annual approved food list that spells out brands, package sizes, and allowed varieties. Benefits must be spent on items that match that list exactly.¹

Milk, Cheese, and Yogurt

Low-fat (1%) or skim milk is covered in gallons, half gallons, or quarts. Lactose-free, evaporated, and dry milk are allowed when the benefit specifies them. Flavored milk, organic milk, and milk with added protein or omega-3s are not covered.²

Cheese comes in 8 or 16 ounce packages — cheddar, mozzarella, Colby, Swiss, provolone, Monterey Jack, in block, sliced, shredded, or string form. Deli-sliced, imported, and organic cheeses are excluded. Yogurt is covered in 32-ounce tubs or 16-ounce multipacks, but drinkable yogurts and those with granola or candy mix-ins are not.²

Eggs, Legumes, and Peanut Butter

Every participant category receives at least one dozen eggs per month. Fully breastfeeding women get two dozen. Dried and canned beans, lentils, and peas, along with peanut butter, round out the protein options, with quantities set by category.³

Cereal and Whole Grains

Women and children receive 36 ounces of approved cereal per month. The approved list includes cold cereals like Cheerios, Chex, and Kix and hot cereals like Cream of Wheat and Quaker oatmeal, with gluten-free options available.² Whole grain products come in 16-ounce packages and include 100% whole wheat bread, whole wheat tortillas, soft corn tortillas, brown rice, and whole wheat pasta. Store brands from Giant, Giant Eagle, Weis, and others are approved. Organic whole grains and products with added nuts, seeds, or dried fruit are not permitted.⁴

Juice

WIC covers 100% pasteurized juice in 64-ounce bottles or cartons. Approved brands include Apple & Eve, Juicy Juice, Mott’s, and Ocean Spray, along with several store brands. Cider, juice cocktails, organic juice, and juice with added sweeteners are not covered.²

Fruits and Vegetables

Produce comes as a monthly cash-value benefit you spend on fresh, frozen, or canned fruits and vegetables. For fiscal year 2026, the federal amounts are $26 per month for children, $48 for pregnant and postpartum women, and $52 for breastfeeding women.⁵ Organic produce is allowed. Items with added dips, sauces, sugar, or fat are not, and neither are salad bar items, dried fruits, or fries.² If a purchase goes over the benefit amount, you can cover the difference with SNAP, cash, or another payment method.

Plant-Based Milk and Tofu

Plant-based milk beverages from Silk, Ripple, Pacific Ultra Soy, and 8th Continent are covered in 32 to 64 ounce containers. Tofu is covered in up to 16-ounce containers from brands including Nasoya, Azumaya, and SoyBoy.²

Canned Fish

Canned fish is included for breastfeeding women and, under the revised federal rules, for children ages one through four. Fully breastfeeding women receive up to 30 ounces per month; children receive 6 ounces. Eligible types include tuna, salmon, sardines, and mackerel.³

Infant Formula and Baby Food

PA WIC contracts with Abbott Nutrition for standard Similac infant formulas. The exact brand, type, and container size show up on each family’s benefit balance, set by the WIC clinic based on the baby’s needs. Some product lines are not authorized, including Similac 360 Total Care, Similac Pro formulas, Gerber Pro formulas, and Enfamil NeuroPro formulas.⁶

If a baby needs a specialized formula for allergies, metabolic conditions, or other medical reasons, a healthcare provider can submit a Formula Authorization Form. Ready-to-feed formula generally is not provided for healthy, full-term infants unless the formula only comes in that form or there is a documented medical need.⁶

Baby food is covered starting around six months of age:

Infant cereal in 8 or 16 ounce containers — barley, rice, oatmeal, whole wheat, multigrain, or corn — from brands like Gerber, Beech Nut, and Earth’s Best Organic. Cereals with added DHA, fruit, formula, or yogurt are excluded.
Infant fruits and vegetables in 4-ounce containers, up to 32 containers per month. Approved brands include Gerber, Beech Nut, and Happy Baby. Squeezable pouches and desserts are not allowed.
Infant meats, available only for fully breastfed babies, in 2.5-ounce containers of meat in broth or gravy. Mixed dinners and meat sticks are excluded.

Organic baby food is permitted across all infant food categories.⁴

How Much You Get Depends On Your Category

Food packages are sized to the participant. Fully breastfeeding women receive the largest allotment: 5 gallons of milk, 2 pounds of cheese, 2 dozen eggs, 30 ounces of canned fish, 36 ounces of cereal, and a $52 fruit and vegetable benefit each month.³ Pregnant and partially breastfeeding women get somewhat less — 4.5 gallons of milk, 1 pound of cheese, 1 dozen eggs — with $48 and $52 cash-value benefits respectively.⁷ Postpartum women who are not breastfeeding receive 3 gallons of milk and a $47 fruit and vegetable benefit. Children ages one through four receive 3 gallons of milk, 1 dozen eggs, 1 pound of cheese, and $26 for fruits and vegetables.

Health Screenings, Nutrition Counseling, and Referrals

Food is only part of the program. WIC appointments include tracking weight gain during pregnancy, weighing and measuring infants and children to monitor growth, reviewing medical history and diet, and checking blood iron levels.⁸ Staff review immunization records and refer families to healthcare providers for vaccines or lead testing when needed.

Nutrition education covers healthy eating, breastfeeding, and child development. WIC clinics also refer families to other health and social services.⁹

Farmers Market Checks

During the growing season, PA WIC participants can receive Farmers Market Nutrition Program checks on top of regular benefits. Each eligible participant gets three $10 checks, distributed at quarterly WIC visits between May and September. The checks can be used from June 1 through November 30 at authorized farmers’ markets and roadside stands for Pennsylvania-grown fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Jams, honey, and baked goods are not eligible. More than 1,029 farmers across the state participate.¹⁰

Using the eWIC Card

Benefits come on an electronic card called eWIC that works like a debit card. The month’s benefits load automatically based on the appointment schedule, with no need to visit a store to load them.¹¹ At checkout, you tell the cashier you are using WIC, insert the card, and enter a four-digit PIN. The register identifies eligible items and deducts them from your balance. If you are splitting payment, the eWIC card must be run first.¹²

Benefits must be used at WIC-authorized grocery stores, and unused benefits expire at 11:59 PM on the last day of the benefit month. They do not roll over.² You can check your remaining balance on your last grocery receipt, through the WICShopper app, or by calling the number on the back of the card.¹¹

Who Can Receive These Benefits

PA WIC serves pregnant women, women who gave birth within the past six months (or up to twelve months if breastfeeding), infants up to age one, and children up to their fifth birthday. Fathers, grandparents, and foster parents who are legal guardians can apply on behalf of an eligible child.¹³

Applicants must live in Pennsylvania and have a documented medical or nutritional risk, which is assessed at the WIC appointment. Gross household income cannot exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty level. From July 2025 through June 2026, a family of four can earn up to $59,478 per year, and a family of three up to $49,303.¹⁴ Each unborn infant counts as one additional household member.

Families already receiving SNAP, Medical Assistance (Medicaid), TANF, or LIHEAP automatically meet the income test, though they still need to provide income documentation. Children under five on Medical Assistance qualify regardless of parental income. Foster children are eligible, and only the benefits received for the child are counted — the foster parent’s income is not. Proof of citizenship or immigration status is not required, and WIC benefits are excluded from public charge determinations.¹⁴

To get started, apply online at pawic.com or call 1-800-WIC-WINS (1-800-942-9467). A WIC staff member will reach out to schedule an appointment.¹³

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USDA Food and Nutrition Service. WIC CVV/B Amounts for FY 2026
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PA WIC. PA WIC Formulary Guide for Healthcare Providers
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USDA Food and Nutrition Administration. Food Package V – Pregnant and Partially Breastfeeding
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PA WIC. Health Screening
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PA WIC. Healthcare Providers Refer Families
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PA Department of Agriculture. Farmers Market Nutrition Programs
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PA WIC. PA WIC
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