WIC Program

WIC Approved Milk & Dairy

Milk and dairy are a core part of nearly every WIC food package, with the fat content and monthly amount set by your age group and participant category.

What Is Covered

WIC covers fluid cow's milk in fat-content varieties based on participant type and age. Children 12 to 24 months typically receive whole milk; older children and adults receive low-fat (1%) or fat-free (skim) milk. Lactose-free milk is approved in many states. A portion of your milk benefit can also be exchanged for cheese — check your state's approved foods list for the exact substitution ratio.

Typical Quantities

Your monthly benefit

Monthly milk amounts run about 3 to 4 gallons depending on participant category, following a 2026 USDA food package update that reduced milk quantities to better align with recommended dairy intake (packages previously provided as much as 4 to 6 gallons). Cheese is no longer a standalone benefit category for fully breastfeeding participants under the update, but it remains available to everyone as a partial milk substitution. Check your WIC benefit for your exact allotment.

Shopping Tips

Look for the WIC shelf tag in the dairy aisle. WIC milk must be pasteurized fluid cow's milk in an approved fat-content variety — flavored milk, raw milk, and glass bottles are generally not covered. Plant-based alternatives like soy, oat, or almond milk are only covered in some states as a standard or substitution option, so check your state's approved foods list before buying.

Find Your State's Approved List

Approved brands and package sizes for milk & dairy vary by state. Select your state below for the specific list.

Alabama Alabama Department of Public Health — Bureau of Family Health Services, State WIC Office Alaska Alaska Department of Health — Division of Public Assistance, WIC Program Arizona Arizona Department of Health Services — WIC Program Arkansas Arkansas Department of Health — WIC Program California California Department of Public Health — WIC Division Colorado Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment — WIC Program Connecticut Connecticut Department of Public Health — WIC Program Delaware Delaware Health and Social Services — WIC Program District of Columbia DC Health — WIC Program Florida Florida Department of Health — WIC Program Georgia Georgia Department of Public Health — WIC Program Hawaii Hawaii Department of Health — WIC Services Branch Idaho Idaho Department of Health & Welfare — WIC Program Illinois Illinois Department of Human Services — WIC Program Indiana Indiana Department of Health — WIC Program Iowa Iowa Health and Human Services — WIC Program Kansas Kansas Department of Health and Environment — Nutrition & WIC Services Kentucky Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services — Department for Public Health, Nutrition Services Branch Louisiana Louisiana Department of Health — Bureau of Nutrition Services Maine Maine Department of Health and Human Services — Maine CDC WIC Nutrition Program Maryland Maryland Department of Health — WIC Program Massachusetts Massachusetts Department of Public Health — WIC Nutrition Program Michigan Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) — WIC Program Minnesota Minnesota Department of Health — WIC Program Mississippi Mississippi State Department of Health — WIC Program Missouri Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services — WIC and Nutrition Services Montana Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services — WIC Program Nebraska Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services — WIC Program Nevada Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health — WIC Program New Hampshire New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services — WIC Program New Jersey New Jersey Department of Health — WIC Program New Mexico New Mexico Department of Health — WIC Program New York New York State Department of Health — WIC Program North Carolina North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services — WIC Program North Dakota North Dakota Health and Human Services — WIC Program Ohio Ohio Department of Health — WIC Program Oklahoma Oklahoma State Department of Health — WIC Program Oregon Oregon Health Authority — WIC Program Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Department of Health — Bureau of Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Rhode Island Rhode Island Department of Health — WIC Program South Carolina South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) — WIC Program South Dakota South Dakota Department of Health — WIC Program Tennessee Tennessee Department of Health — WIC Program Texas Texas Health and Human Services — Texas WIC Program Utah Utah Department of Health and Human Services — WIC Program Vermont Vermont Department of Health — WIC Program Virginia Virginia Department of Health — WIC Program Washington Washington State Department of Health — WIC Nutrition Program West Virginia West Virginia Department of Health — Office of Nutrition Services Wisconsin Wisconsin Department of Health Services — WIC Program Wyoming Wyoming Department of Health — WIC Program

Frequently Asked Questions

Does WIC cover whole milk?

WIC covers whole milk for children ages 1 to 2. Adults and older children typically receive low-fat (1%) or fat-free milk.

Can I substitute cheese for milk?

Yes. A portion of your milk benefit can be exchanged for cheese in most states — check your state's approved foods list for the exact ratio and approved varieties.

Does WIC cover plant-based milk?

Some states include soy milk or other plant-based options as a standard benefit or milk substitution. Coverage and approved brands vary by state — check your state's approved foods list.

Does WIC cover lactose-free milk?

Many states include lactose-free cow's milk on their approved foods list for participants who can't tolerate lactose.

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