Submit Foods for Review - Vendors

Washington WIC participants can only purchase foods that are on our Approved Product List (APL). When individuals or companies submit new foods, we conduct a review to verify that the products meet all WIC requirements. Once verified, we add the new products to the APL for WIC participants to purchase.

Current Status of WA WIC Food Reviews  

2025

1. WA WIC plans to complete Food Reviews for the following categories:

• Plant-based cheese
• Plant-based milk
• Yogurt (milk and plant-based)
• Nut and seed butters

While we will be requesting submissions for these food categories in 2025, we will accept submissions for new products from any food category at any point throughout the year.

2024

1. The USDA Food and Nutrition Service published the new food rules in April 2024.
2. WA WIC completed Food Reviews for the following categories:

• Breakfast cereal
• Herbs and fruit/vegetable party trays (without sauces or dips)
• Whole Grains: pasta, tortillas, bread/buns, brown rice, oatmeal
• Cow’s milk
• Goat’s milk
• Soy beverages
• Peanut butter
• Tofu

How does WA WIC Review Foods?  

Each category of food has federal requirements and state criteria that must be met before WA WIC approves a product. There are two types of reviews: Formal reviews and Informal reviews.  

Formal Review

We use formal reviews to request new products from food manufacturers and vendors. If the new products meet WIC requirements, we will add them to the APL. WA WIC usually reviews a few food categories each year.

Informal Review

We use informal reviews to assess products daily that are submitted by participants, food vendors, and manufacturers. If products meet all WIC requirements they will be added to the APL.

Once on the APL, participants can use their WIC benefits to buy approved products.  

How to Submit Foods  

Prior to submitting a product, verify that it is not already approved by referencing the APL. 

If the product is not WIC-approved and you think that it meets all requirements, please follow these instructions: 

• Download and complete the appropriate spreadsheet(s) from the “Food Category Spreadsheets” menu below. 
• Review the federal requirements and WA state criteria at the top of the spreadsheet(s) to help determine state approval. 
• Add the product information onto the spreadsheet(s).
• Provide a high resolution (300 ppi) JPEG of each product submitted (via FTP or ZIP file attached to your email) for consideration.  
• Submit the completed spreadsheet(s) and photos to WAWICFoods@doh.wa.gov.  

Food Category Spreadsheets  

Files listed below are all .Excel files (xlsx)

• Baby Food
  • Baby Cereal
  • Baby Food – Fruits
  • Baby Food – Vegetables
  • Baby Food – Meats
• Beans
  • Beans – Canned
  • Beans, Peas, or Lentils – Dried
• Breakfast Cereal
• Cheese
  • Cheese – Cow-Milk-Based
  • Cheese – Plant-Based
• Eggs
• Fish – Canned and Pouches
• Fruits and Vegetables
  • Fruits – Canned
  • Fruits – Frozen
  • Vegetables – Canned
  • Vegetables – Frozen
  • Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs – Fresh
• Juice
• Milk and Milk Alternatives
  • Cow Milk – Fluid, Dried, Evaporated, Buttermilk, Kefir
  • Goat Milk – Fluid, Dried, Evaporated, Kefir
  • Plant-Based Milk Alternatives
• Nut and Seed Butters
• Peanut Butter
• Tofu
• Whole Grain Options
  • Bread and Buns
  • Grains (i.e. Rice, Oats, Barley, Corn Meal, Quinoa, etc.)
  • Pasta
  • Tortillas
• Yogurt
  • Yogurt – Cow-Milk-Based
  • Yogurt – Plant-Based

What to expect after submission 

1. We’ll let you know if the food is:

• Approved 
• Not approved with an explanation for why 

2. When a product meets all criteria, it will be: 

• Added to the APL 
• Added to the next WIC Shopping Guide (if we provide brand-specific information for that food category)  

Thank you for your participation in providing a variety of foods to our WA WIC families.