[pwit]

<p>Any of you on WIC ever notice that the WIC approved food <a href="http://wicwoes.com/2010/price-gouging-and-wic" target="_blank">cost more</a> than other food in the store?  I have and I'm wondering what causes it?  Is it the store setting that higher price or is it the maker of the food selling the WIC approved version to the store for a higher price?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I don't use formula but I have heard that formula is expensive in part because of WIC too, I don't quite understand how it works.  It does make me wonder though if the WIC program somehow encourages price gouging how much would the price of milk go down without the WIC program because on WIC we get a LOT of milk.  I don't know if it really has in effect or not just curious</p>

 

[BetsyS]

<p>I'm not on WIC, so I haven't paid attention.</p>
<p><br>
However, I have noticed that it is a lot easier to find whole wheat bread in the 16 oz size (sandwich loaf) now that WIC pays for that.  I think that's a nice bonus, making that more available, even for those of us not on WIC.</p>

 

[surrogate]

<p>I have noticed it, esp when it comes to cereal and formula....it is crazy</p>

 

[beebalmmama]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>BetsyS</strong> <a href="/community/forum/thread/1281485/price-gouging-and-wic#post_16069960"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>I'm not on WIC, so I haven't paid attention.</p>
<p><br>
However, I have noticed that it is a lot easier to find whole wheat bread in the 16 oz size (sandwich loaf) now that WIC pays for that.  I think that's a nice bonus, making that more available, even for those of us not on WIC.</p>
</div>
</div>
<p> </p>
<p>I haven't found any 16oz size bread here. Only thing for 16 oz I can get is hot dog buns or a half package of burger buns.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I have always assumed the products available with WIC were probably because of lobbying by those companies.<br><br>
 </p>

 

[sunsetdancer]

I did once read an article about how WIC products do cost more and how there is no incentive to use coupons. I did use a coupon on the baby cereal WIC provides and the cashier looked at me like I was crazy. As if I was the only person to even use a coupon on WIC.

 

[Ravin]

<p>I think this is the reason why they went to "lowest priced brand" on milk and cheese. They're more specific about cereal because specifying sugar limits or whatever they're concerned about would be too complicated. Heck, it's hard enough getting people to read labels enough to get the right baby food fruits/veggies!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I never bother with coupons on WIC items. I do go to wal-mart and do ad matches for fruits and veggies, though. $5 stretches a lot farther when you can get the sale prices from Sprouts, Food City, Sunflower Market, etc. all at once.</p>

 

[BetsyS]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>beebalmmama</strong> <a href="/community/forum/thread/1281485/price-gouging-and-wic#post_16080802"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><br><br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>BetsyS</strong> <a href="/community/forum/thread/1281485/price-gouging-and-wic#post_16069960"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>I'm not on WIC, so I haven't paid attention.</p>
<p><br>
However, I have noticed that it is a lot easier to find whole wheat bread in the 16 oz size (sandwich loaf) now that WIC pays for that.  I think that's a nice bonus, making that more available, even for those of us not on WIC.</p>
</div>
</div>
<p> </p>
<p>I haven't found any 16oz size bread here. Only thing for 16 oz I can get is hot dog buns or a half package of burger buns.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I have always assumed the products available with WIC were probably because of lobbying by those companies.<br><br>
 </p>
</div>
</div>
<p><br><br>
Maybe it's where I live?  But, here, there are several newish brands that have 16 oz size loaves.  Even some of the brands have started carrying a 16 oz loaf instead of the bigger (wider) 24 oz loaf.  I like that, cause my kids prefer the smaller pieces of bread.  It's also easier to find whole-grain tortillas now (our WIC covers whole grain flour tortillas or corn tortillas). </p>
<p> </p>
<p>And, selfishly I like it, again, not because I'm on WIC.  But, my favorite international market started accepting WIC, and they are carrying more bread products.  LOL.  Which means I can do one stop shopping. </p>

 

[indie]

<p>I work for WIC and I'm sure some stores do price gouge, but the only local store I pay attention to has sales on WIC items frequently. When I was receiving WIC, I always tried to remember to use my shopper card and it was clear that the cashiers were instructed to NOT ask for the card even though they ask for it for EVERY other purchase. So, yes, the stores are doing what they can to maximize the money they make from WIC.</p>

 

[amyhulen]

<p>I don't know anythng about stores and thier pricing practices but I did read an article about formula companies setting the prices of formula and the WIC program just pays whatever they say it costs. There really isn't any negotiating going on there. I feel for the moms who choose to or have to formula feed and get stuck paying the increased prices due to the fact that the WIC program pretty much promotes price fixing.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This is a bit of a sore subject for me so I am going to stop before I get into a rant.</p>

 

[Hey Mama!]

<p>I haven't had that experience.  The WIC food was almost always the cheapest in our local grocery store. </p>

 

[carrierwright]

<p>Each state WIC program has the option of changing companies so the foods approved in one state may be very different brands from those in others. (which is craziness for the formula moms who change states-another benefit of bfing) In Texas they seem to generally be inexpensive in the stores, but the companies deal directly w/WIC and agree on how much WIC will reimburse them for each item. The cheapest bidder (assuming nutritional equivalence) gets the bid. The same goes for breast pump companies. Some states use Ameda, but a few are doing Hygeia now. (That's a random addition, but a fun fact I just learned) </p>

 

[indie]

<p>Our state gives chooses the formula from the lowest bidder. Our entire Muslim population is stuck using soy formula because Nestle Good Start milk based formulas are made with a pork derivative.</p>

 

[indie]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>carrierwright</strong> <a href="/community/forum/thread/1281485/price-gouging-and-wic#post_16112956"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p> The same goes for breast pump companies. Some states use Ameda, but a few are doing Hygeia now. (That's a random addition, but a fun fact I just learned) </p>
</div>
</div>
<br><br><p>We're currently giving out Ameda pumps, but there is a strong possibility that we'll move to Hygeia.</p>