North Carolina WIC Approved Foods
Food List & Approved Groceries
North Carolina WIC Agency
North Carolina WIC Food List
North Carolina WIC updated its approved food packages in early 2026 to allow for more choice and variety. The NC WIC Shopping Guide was updated in January 2026, and additional changes to approved foods took effect November 1, 2025. The current shopping guide and food changes documents are available at ncdhhs.gov/ncwic in English and Spanish.
North Carolina WIC Food Package Overview
Dairy and alternatives: Milk, cheese, yogurt, tofu, and soy-based beverage are all included in North Carolina's food packages. North Carolina explicitly includes soy-based beverage as a standard option — ask your WIC nutritionist about adding it to your benefits.
Whole grains: Approved options include whole-grain bread, brown rice, whole-wheat pasta, soft corn tortillas, and whole-wheat tortillas. Your monthly whole grain benefit is measured in ounces and you can mix and match approved grain products.
Fruits and vegetables: Fresh, frozen, and canned options are eligible under the monthly Cash Value Benefit (CVB). North Carolina's food package updates in 2026 expanded variety in this category.
Protein: Dried or canned beans, peas, lentils, peanut butter, and eggs are all approved. Fully breastfeeding women receive chunk-light tuna or salmon as an additional benefit.
Infant foods: Formula, cereal, fruits, vegetables, and meats (for fully breastfed infants). North Carolina has adopted the updated federal WIC food package guidelines for infant cereals — ask your WIC nutritionist about currently approved infant cereal options for your baby.
Special formulas: Available for women and children with certain medical conditions. A prescription from a physician or health care provider is required before NC WIC can provide a special formula or nutritional supplement.
Shopping with NC eWIC
Your NC eWIC card works at authorized retail grocery stores and pharmacies statewide. Check with the store before using self-checkout for eWIC transactions — availability varies by retailer. When in doubt, use a staffed checkout lane.
Manage your eWIC benefits, check your balance, set your PIN, or replace a lost card through the ebtEDGE app (free on iOS and Android) or at ebtEDGE.com. For eWIC customer service, call 1-844-230-0813. Benefits do not roll over — use them before the end of each monthly benefit period.
Some nutrition education visits can be completed online at wichealth.org, reducing in-person clinic trips after initial certification.
