Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 4, 2026

Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation
Published on: February 15, 2018
WIC's promotion of infant formula in the United States
1Department of Political Science, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, Hawai'i 96822, USA. kent@hawaii.edu.
Background:
The United States' Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) distributes about half the infant formula used in the United States at no cost to the families. This is a matter of concern because it is known that feeding with infant formula results in worse health outcomes for infants than breastfeeding.
Discussion:
The evidence that is available indicates that the WIC program has the effect of promoting the use of infant formula, thus placing infants at higher risk. Moreover, the program violates the widely accepted principles that have been set out in the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and in the human right to adequate food.
Summary:
There is no good reason for an agency of government to distribute large quantities of free infant formula. It is recommended that the large-scale distribution of free infant formula by the WIC program should be phased out.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Parental Care
Transcytosis of IgG
IgG molecules from a mother undergo transcytosis starting around 13 weeks of gestation. The amount of IgG transferred and entering the fetal blood circulation increases with...
Bioequivalence studies: Biowaivers
Intrauterine Drug Delivery Systems
Development of Human Microbiota
Development of the Oral Microbiota

