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Spring 2024
 50 Years
Now in its 50th year, WIC is a one-of-a-kind program that is constantly evolving to meet the unique needs of families in underserved communities. Visit
WIC50th.nwica.org to learn more.
50th Celebration Videos
Why WIC Matters
The First WIC Clinic
The Impact of Nutrition Education in WIC
As the final step in the WIC process, your store plays a key part in the work of the WIC program. You make sure that your WIC customers receive the foods listed on their benefits.
Thank you for providing this great service to Maine Families.
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Training Log
This newsletter provides required annual training for any staff who assist with WIC sales in your store. Please have all staff handling WIC transactions and WIC benefits read this newsletter and complete the Training Log. Return the completed log to us by July 30, 2024, and keep a copy for your records. Remember to put the name of your store with the city and state on the training log. WIC staff will check your training logs during on-site visits.
Send completed training logs by email or fax.
Email: WICVendor@maine.com
Fax: 207-287-3993
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WIC Vendor Interactive Training
Aroostook, Hancock, and Washington Counties
Stores in Aroostook, Hancock, and Washington counties are up for renewal this year. This means at least one person from your store(s) must attend the 2024 WIC Vendor interactive training and you must complete your vendor renewal application(s) by September 1st. More information to follow - be on the look out for our email.
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What is WIC?
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is a nutrition program that provides nutrition and health education, breastfeeding support, healthy food and referrals to other services for Maine families that qualify. WIC supports families with nutritious foods during critical times of growth and development.
The WIC Program is federally funded by USDA’s Food and Nutrition Services.
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WIC Approved Foods
WIC provides supplemental foods designed to meet the special nutritional needs
of WIC participants. WIC food categories are:
| • Milk or milk alternatives |
• Beans/ Peas/ Lentils |
• Breakfast Cereal |
| • Cheese/Tofu |
• Whole Grain Items |
• Canned Fish |
| • Eggs |
• Fruits and Vegetables |
• Infant Formula |
| • Peanut Butter |
• Juice |
• Infant Food |
The current Approved Product List (APL) can be found on our website, or identified using the WICShopper App. Check your store’s products with WICShopper App. If the product is not recognized as WIC‐approved, use the “I couldn’t buy this!” to report or send an e‐mail to SubmitUPCWIC@Maine.gov.
Produce Mapping
Maine WIC strongly encourages "full" or "one-to-one" mapping, which means that a fresh produce item with a UPC should be mapped to a PLU for the same kind of item.
Mapping is the process of matching UPCs of fresh fruits and vegetables in your integrated Point of Sale (POS) software to Price Look Up (PLU) codes listed in the Authorized Product List (APL).
What Produce Items Must Be Mapped?
- All fresh, plain fruits and vegetables including precut items with UPCs like in-store or commissary cut fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Fresh plain fruits and vegetables in bags or clamshells such as berries like clamshells of strawberries, or brand name packaged items like a bag of Dole Romaine Lettuce.
- Fresh plain fruits and vegetables with PLUs that are not standard IFPS PLUs
- Review Produce Mapping
It is very difficult to keep track of all the different produce UPCs, so retailers can make sure that all WIC allowed produce can be purchased with a WIC card by mapping the UPCs.
Please assist WIC families purchasing fresh produce with UPCs by mapping any new products received.
Minimum Inventory Requirements Checklist
Stores are required to stock WIC-approved foods and keep a minimum inventory available. Minimum inventory must be available at the time of application and must be maintained by WIC authorized stores. Minimum Stocking Requirements (PDF)
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Infant Formula From Authorized Supplier
Infant formula charged to the WIC program must be obtained by the vendor from an authorized supplier. Authorized Infant Formula Supplier List (PDF) Each vendor must maintain inventory records of these purchases for at least three years.
These inventory records include but are not limited to:
- Inventory records showing all infant formula purchases, wholesale and retail, in the form of invoices identifying the wholesale or retail quantity and prices.
- Transfer records showing origination, destination, and quantity.
- Sales and use tax return.
- Books of account
- Other pertinent records necessary to substantiate the volume and the prices charged through WIC food instrument redemption and for determination and verification of whether vendor is an above‐50‐percent vendor.
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WIC Transaction Procedures
The procedure for transacting WIC can be a little different depending on the register system at your store. Please review your store’s procedures on processing a WIC transaction.
However, all stores must:
- Give the WIC customer the balance inquiry receipt.
- Give the customer their mid-transaction receipt and have them verify the items that are approved. Be sure the customer approves the transaction. If the card declines (times out), note the error code, wait about 20 seconds and then have the customer swipe their card again or have them manually enter their eWIC card number.
- Give the customer their final receipt.
If there are items that the customer believes are WIC-approved but do not ring through, ask the customer to check them on the WIC Shopper App or refer them to their WIC clinic.
Common issues causing rejection of transaction or item:
- Customer has more than the 50 WIC-approved item limit.
- Customer did not accept the mid-transaction in time.
- The customer selected items that are on the APL but are not on the participant’s benefit.
WIC cannot pay for bottle deposits or bag fees. Please collect these from the WIC customer.
Remember, WIC customers are not required to buy all the items on their benefit nor are all the items on the WIC APL on the customer’s benefit. Run a balance inquiry for a list of foods currently available on the customer’s benefit.
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Vendor Sanction System
The Maine WIC Program sanction system is predominantly a pattern-based sanction system. The Program may initiate administrative action to assess a civil money penalty, terminate for cause, or disqualify vendor for non-compliance on the basis of an incident of violation or a pattern of violations.
The Maine WIC Program will issue a warning letter for the initial incident of a state or federal-level violation prior to imposing sanctions, with the following exceptions:
- The Department determines that notification of the vendor will compromise the compliance investigation.
- The violation warrants disqualification after one incident.
- A federal-level mandatory sanction must be imposed after the first incident; or
- The violation is detected as the result of an inventory audit.
Prior to terminating for cause, the WIC Program will consider whether it would result in inadequate participant access. In rare cases, the WIC Program might decide that disqualifying a vendor would cause undue participant hardship. In these situations, the WIC Program might elect to assess a civil money penalty rather than disqualify the vendor.
For more detail, refer to the WIC Program VM-6: Sanction System.
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WIC-Customer Complaints
We would like to know about any problems or concerns you have with WIC customers or processing WIC transactions. The problem may be a misunderstanding. Some customers may be new to WIC or do not understand the Approved Foods List or transaction procedures. Sometimes a WIC customer, or any customer, can be challenging. Please assist them, in a discreet manner, to resolve the conflict. Feel free to report WIC customer issues via WICShopper "Rate or give feedback" or Call: 207-287-3991 or email: WICVendor@maine.gov.
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Claims
If the WIC Program detects overcharges by an authorized vendor, it will
establish a claim against the vendor. The Program will provide the vendor with
an opportunity to justify or correct the vendor overcharges. If satisfied with the
justification or correction, the WIC Program will adjust the proposed claim
accordingly. If following the justification or correction a claim against the
vendor remains, the WIC Program will issue a final claim. The final claim must
be paid within 30 days of issuance or the vendor agreement will be terminated.
Claims against vendors are not subject to administrative appeal.
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Incentive Policy
You cannot offer a WIC customer incentives that you do not offer to all your other customers. You can offer buy-one-get-one and other types of promotions to WIC customers, and you must accept valid manufacturer coupons from WIC customers if you allow these for your other customers. You must always treat a WIC customer the same as you would any other customer.
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Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)
The FMNP is a program of the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Services WIC program. The focus of the program is to increase the use of fresh, unprocessed, locally grown fruits and vegetables by WIC participants.
July 1st to Oct 31st you may notice FMNP & CVB (Cash Value Benefits) on customer’s WIC balance inquiries. WIC customers are to redeem benefits with certified ME WIC farmers only. This year the benefit is $50.00 per eligible WIC participant.
The Fruit & Vegetables CVB (Cash Value Benefit) are redeemable at ME WIC authorized stores and ME WIC certified farmers.
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Changes to WIC
New Approved Food List
Yogurt
We added 3 more size options of Yogurt. Starting Oct 1, 2023, WIC Approved Yogurt sizes are 8oz, 16oz, 24oz and 32oz for WIC customers to choose from.
Please make sure to download most current APL version available on a daily basis.
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Sizes
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Whole Milk Yogurt
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Quart Low-fat Yogurt
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| 8 oz |
Yes |
No (Non available) |
| 16 oz |
Yes |
Yes |
| 24 oz |
Yes |
Yes |
| 32 oz |
Yes |
Yes |
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Try this fun recipe to cool off this Summer.
Ingredients
1 cup chopped and frozen Mango pieces*
½ cup crushed pineapple*
1 cup milk*
¼ cup yogurt*
Directions
Combine all ingredients and blend until smooth.
Serve immediately.
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| Nutrition Information: 2 Servings |
| 140 calories per serving |
Total carbohydrates 26 g |
| Total fat 2 g |
Sugars: 24 g |
| Saturated fat 1 g |
Vitamin C 35 mg (58%) |
| Total protein 7 g |
Calcium 227 mg (23%) |
*Food can be purchased using WIC benefits
Credit: Bahama Mama Tropical Smoothie - It Is a Keeper
Do you like a good Word Search?
Strands is a word search with a few twists. The puzzle has a theme, and your job is to find both the one word that describes the theme as well as a handful of examples.
Click on this link to try a WIC Strand Puzzle
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We appreciate you and thank you for all your hard work and support of the Maine WIC Nutrition Program.
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This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Non-Discrimination Statement
Maine WIC Nutrition Program
Department of Health & Human Services
Center for Disease Control & Prevention
286 Water Street
Augusta, ME 04330
207-287-3991 1-800-437-9300
TTY: Maine Relay 711
email: WICVendor@maine.gov
website: Maine.gov/WIC
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