Kentucky WIC Approved Foods
Food List & Approved Groceries
Kentucky WIC Agency
Kentucky WIC Food List
Kentucky WIC food benefits are loaded monthly onto an eWIC card โ which works like a debit card โ accepted at WIC-authorized grocery stores across all 120 Kentucky counties. Your specific monthly food package depends on your participant category (pregnant, breastfeeding, postpartum, infant, or child) and is determined at your certification appointment. Kentucky's current food package, effective April 2026, includes expanded whole grain options and canned fish alongside established categories. Use the WICShopper app โ select Kentucky as your agency and register your 16-digit eWIC card โ for the current approved brand and size list.
Dairy โ Milk, Yogurt, and Cheese
Milk: The type of milk in your package depends on the participant's age and is shown on your eWIC shopping list. Children under two receive whole milk; children ages two to five and women typically receive low-fat (1%) or fat-free milk. Reduced-fat milk is also available for some packages. Acidophilus, lactose-free, and powdered milk are allowed when shown on the shopping list. No flavored milk, goat's milk, or organic milk. No milk with added plant sterols, DHA, ARA, or Omega 3. Plant-based milk (half-gallon or quart) is limited to 8th Continent or Silk Soy Original and must be listed on your eWIC shopping list.
Yogurt: 32-ounce tub only (or equivalent multipacks totaling 32 oz). Whole-milk yogurt brands include Dannon (Whole Milk Plain and Vanilla), Meijer (Whole Milk Plain), Mountain High (Whole Fat Plain), Kroger (Whole Milk Plain, Vanilla, and Blended Vanilla), and Our Family (Whole Milk Plain). Low-fat and fat-free options include Activia (Low Fat Vanilla, Peach, Strawberry), Coburn Farms (Low Fat Plain), Kroger (Blended Low Fat Plain), Dannon (Nonfat Plain, Low Fat Plain, Low Fat Vanilla), Yoplait (Low Fat Blueberry, Peach, Strawberry, Strawberry Banana, Vanilla, Plain), Great Value (Nonfat Plain, Low Fat Peach, Plain, Strawberry, Mango), Food Lion (Plain Nonfat, Low Fat Vanilla), Meijer (Nonfat Plain, Blended varieties), Lala (Low Fat Plain), Mountain High (Low Fat Plain), and others. No Greek or strained yogurt, no organic, no artificial sweeteners (no Light & Fit or Carb Master), no drinkable yogurt, no mix-in ingredients like granola or honey.
Cheese: Block, crumbled, cubed, sliced, shredded, or string cheese in 8- or 16-ounce packages only. Approved types: Brick, Cheddar, Colby, Monterey Jack, Mozzarella, Muenster, Provolone, and Swiss. Low-fat, reduced-fat, and nonfat varieties are allowed. No American cheese, no deli cheese, no processed cheese spreads, no added pepper or herbs, no organic, no added probiotics.
Eggs
Grade A, white eggs in a dozen only. Size may be small, medium, or large โ whichever your package authorizes. Cage-free eggs are allowed. No brown eggs, no organic or free-range, no low-cholesterol or antibiotic-free labeling, and no eggs with added Omega 3 or other fatty acids.
Cereal
Any cereal on the approved list, in packages of 10 ounces or larger. Approved brands and varieties include:
- B&G Foods: Cream of Wheat (Instant, 2ยฝ-minute, 1-minute), Cream of Wheat Whole Grain, Cream of Rice, Cream of Rice Instant
- General Mills: Cheerios, Multi-Grain Cheerios, Vanilla Spice Cheerios, Veggie Blends Cheerios (Apple Strawberry, Blueberry Banana), Bluey Cereal, Cheerios Ancient Grains, Fiber One Honey Clusters, Wheaties, Corn Chex, Rice Chex, Wheat Chex, Strawberry Vanilla Chex, Blueberry Chex, Cinnamon Chex, Kix, Honey Kix, Berry Berry Kix, Total
- Kellogg's: All Bran Complete Wheat Flakes, Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, Frosted Mini-Wheats (Original, Little Bites, Blueberry, Cinnamon Roll, Golden Honey, Pumpkin Spice, Strawberry), Special K Protein Original, Multigrain Touch of Cinnamon
- Post: Honey Bunches of Oats (Honey Roasted, Vanilla Bunches, Whole Grain Honey Crunch), Grape Nuts Original, Grape Nuts Flakes
- Quaker: Instant Oatmeal Original, Life Original, Life Multigrain Vanilla, Oatmeal Squares (Brown Sugar, Cinnamon, Golden Maple, Honey Nuts), Instant Grits Original
- Malt-O-Meal: Crispy Rice, Frosted Mini Spooners, Original Hot Wheat Cereal, Strawberry Frosted Mini-Spooners
Whole Grains โ Bread, Pasta, Rice, and Tortillas
Bread, bagels, buns, English muffins, and rolls: 100% whole wheat only, in 12-, 14-, 16-, 20-, or 24-ounce packages. Approved brands include Kroger (100% Whole Wheat, Whole Wheat Bagels), Private Selection (100% Whole Wheat, Whole Wheat Wide Pan), Wonder (100% Whole Wheat, Whole Wheat), Nature's Own (100% Whole Grain, Sugar Free 100% Whole Wheat, Keto Multi-Grain), Kern's (100% Whole Wheat), Pepperidge Farm (Very Thin 100% Whole Wheat, Whole Grain 15 Grains, Whole Grain Honey, Thin Sliced 100% Whole Wheat, Whole Grain Oatbread), Arnold (100% Whole Grain, Sandwich Thins, 100% Whole Wheat, Whole Grain Oatbread), Brownberry (100% Whole Wheat, Sandwich Thins, Whole Grains Whole Wheat, Whole Grains Whole Wheat Small Slice, Whole Grains 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Rolls and Hotdog Buns), Bimbo (100% Whole Wheat), Bunny (Whole Wheat), Thomas' (Whole Wheat Bagels, Light Multi-grain English Muffins, Light Whole Grain English Muffins), Aunt Millie's (Light Whole Grain), Great Value (Whole Wheat), Meijer (Whole Wheat English Muffins), Lewis Bake Shop (Whole Wheat), and others. No white bread, no organic, no additives such as herbs, spices, or cheese.
Pita bread: Whole wheat only, in 11-, 12-, or 14-ounce packages. Approved brands include Joseph's (Whole Wheat Pita Bread), Toufayan Bakeries (Whole Wheat Pita Bread), Kontos (Whole Wheat Pocketless Pita Bread), and Meijer (Whole Wheat Pita Bread).
Pasta: 100% whole wheat pasta, 16-ounce packages only, any brand and any shape (spaghetti, penne, rotini, macaroni/elbows, linguine). No egg noodles, no canned pasta, no gluten-free or brown rice pasta.
Brown rice: Brown, purple, or red rice in 14-, 16-, or 32-ounce packages, any brand. Instant, quick, or regular. No organic, no added flavorings.
Tortillas: Whole wheat or corn tortillas in 16- or 24-ounce packages. Whole wheat brands include Best Choice, Carlita, Celias, Kroger, La Banderita, Mission, Ortega, and others. Corn tortilla brands include Celias, Don Pancho, Food Club, La Banderita, Mission, Guerrero, Kroger, and others. No organic, no added herbs or cheese.
Cornmeal and corn masa flour: 20-, 24-, or 32-ounce packages, any brand. No organic, no added seasonings.
Fruits and Vegetables โ Cash Value Benefit
Your monthly fruits and vegetables benefit is a cash value benefit (CVB) โ the dollar amount is shown on your eWIC shopping list and varies by participant category. Use it on fresh, frozen, or canned produce without added sugars, fats, or oils.
- Fresh: Any whole or cut fresh fruit or vegetable, including organic and fresh-cut herbs. No party trays, fruit baskets, deli or salad bar items, or produce with added dressings or marinades.
- Frozen: Any brand, variety, or size. No added sugar, syrup, fat, or oil. No French fries, tater tots, or breaded vegetables.
- Canned: Any brand or size, packed in water or natural fruit juice. Unsweetened applesauce is allowed. No added sugar, syrup, artificial sweeteners, meat, pasta, or sauces.
If a fresh produce item does not scan as WIC-eligible at checkout, it may not yet be in the store's system โ notify your local WIC clinic so it can be added.
Dried Beans, Peas, and Lentils
Any brand in 16-ounce dried bags or 15- to 16-ounce canned packages. Any plain bean or pea variety qualifies: black, black-eyed, garbanzo, great northern, kidney, lentils, navy, pinto, red, speckled, or mixed. Regular or low-sodium. No added meats, flavorings, sauces, or seasonings. No canned green beans, green peas, or waxed beans โ those are not eligible in the beans and peas category (fresh and frozen green vegetables are purchased separately through your cash value benefit).
Peanut Butter
Any brand in 16- to 18-ounce jars only. Chunky, creamy, crunchy, extra crunchy, or natural styles are all allowed. Low-sodium peanut butter is allowed. No reduced-fat peanut butter โ only regular-fat styles qualify. No organic, no chocolate or marshmallow varieties, no artificial sweeteners, no added honey or jelly, no tubes or "to-go" containers, no Omega 3 or flaxseed varieties.
Tofu
Available to participants whose eWIC shopping list shows tofu as an authorized item. Packages of 8 ounces or 14 to 16 ounces only. Tofu must be prepared with calcium/magnesium salts. Approved brands include:
- Simple Truth: Organic Extra Firm, Organic Firm
- Nasoya: Extra Firm
- House Foods: Premium Medium Firm, Premium Extra Firm, Premium Firm, Housefoods Regular
- Franklin Farms: Medium Firm, Firm, Extra Firm, Soft, Organic Medium Firm, Organic Firm, Organic Extra Firm, Organic Pressed Firm
- Azumaya: Firm, Extra Firm
No marinated or seasoned tofu, no added fats, sugars, oils, or sodium.
Canned Fish
Canned fish must appear on your eWIC shopping list to purchase. Any brand, packed in water or oil only. Approved types and sizes:
- Pink salmon: 6-ounce and 7.5-ounce cans
- Sardines: 3.75-ounce cans
- Tuna: 5-ounce and 6-ounce cans (light tuna only โ no white or albacore tuna)
No organic fish, no foil containers, no added seasonings or flavored varieties.
Juice
100% fruit or vegetable juice only, unsweetened, in the size shown on your eWIC shopping list. Approved sizes and formats:
- Frozen concentrate (12-oz can, makes 48 oz): Any brand grapefruit or orange juice; Seneca apple juice; Old Orchard any flavor.
- Canned or plastic vegetable juice (64 oz): Campbell's Tomato Juice (regular and low sodium), V8 (regular and low sodium).
- Canned or plastic fruit juice (48 or 64 oz): Any brand grapefruit or orange; Seneca or Motts apple; Apple and Eve any flavor; Libby's pineapple; Juicy Juice any flavor; Northland any flavor; Old Orchard 100% Juice any flavor.
Added calcium is allowed. No organic juice. No 46-ounce or 11.5-ounce containers. No cocktails, no V8 Lite, Splash, or Fusion. No DHA, prebiotics, or artificial sweeteners. No juice made with coconut water.
Infant Foods
Infant food benefits depend on whether the infant is fully formula-fed, partially breastfed, or fully breastfed โ breastfed infants receive a larger food package. Formula type and size are specified on the eWIC shopping list; medical formulas require physician documentation. Dry infant cereal must be iron-fortified, in 8-ounce packages only, with no added fruit, formula, DHA, or ARA. Infant fruits and vegetables must be plain (no dinners, desserts, or pouches). Infant meat (2.5-ounce jars) must be shown on the shopping list.
WICShopper App
Download the free WICShopper app from the App Store or Google Play. Select Kentucky as your WIC agency and register your 16-digit eWIC card number. The app lets you scan product barcodes in the store aisle to verify WIC eligibility, check your current benefit balance by food category, find WIC-authorized stores near you, browse recipes using WIC foods, and use a produce calculator to estimate the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables against your cash value benefit. It is the most reliable way to confirm which specific brands and sizes are currently approved.
Farmers' Market Vouchers โ Summer Benefits
Each summer, eligible Kentucky WIC recipients receive $30 in FMNP vouchers to spend on locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables, and fresh-cut herbs at approved farmers' markets and farmstands. Vouchers are distributed by local health departments. As of the most recent CHFS figures, 103 farmers' markets in 92 of Kentucky's 120 counties accept WIC FMNP vouchers. At some markets, the Kentucky Double Dollars program matches your FMNP vouchers dollar-for-dollar, doubling your purchasing power. Ask your local WIC office about FMNP distribution dates and Kentucky Double Dollars availability near you.