I'm coming at this as someone who started her career at WIC.  Most WIC
clinics use powdered infant formula simply because of the cost difference.
It can be significant and this is a program that wants to be able to help
all of the moms and babies that they can.  WIC has shown tremendous
breastfeeding support, too, and is working very hard at increasing
initiation and duration of breastfeeding moms, but this is also a
population that often contends with past sexual abuse, homelessness,
unemployment or underemployed parents, mothers in completely unsupportive
work environments, and cultural stigma regarding nursing.  Although many
moms want to breastfeed, it can be difficult to impossible to continue.  So
is it better to opt for the more expensive ready to feed and be able to
help less babies get safer food than straight cow's milk or homemade
formulas, or utilize the more cost effective powdered formula and aid more
people?  I would agree that it may seem to be an ethical conundrum;
however, with some larger agencies turning away people who would otherwise
qualify because they are simply out of money, or slashing food packages in
order to continue serving vulnerable populations, it would probably be
worse to turn away people.  WIC is probably looking at massive cuts in
upcoming budgets anyway - many social programs in the US are not going to
fare well, I fear.  I worry that this will also impact the quality and
availability of breastfeeding information to low income women, along with
ABM and food items.

Sorry, kind of went off on a tangent there...

-Star Rodriguez, IBCLC, RLC

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