As of January 10, 2025, a memorandum has been released announcing that USDA promotes and supports breastfeeding as the best choice for infant nutrition, highlighting its nutritional and non-nutritional benefit for babies and mothers.
While WIC does not currently include banked human breast milk as eligible food (76 FR 35097), the USDA acknowledges its importance, particularly for infants with specific medical needs. At Mothers’ Milk Bank, we hope that this support will continue to evolve, further emphasizing accessibility to safe and nutritious feeding options for all infants.
In addition to promoting breastfeeding, the USDA acknowledges the critical role of milk banks, especially for infants with medical needs. Donor human milk from these milk banks are regulated by the FDA, ensuring it meets rigorous safety and quality standards. This underlines the reassurance to families who rely on donor milk as a vital nutritional source.
You may read more about the WIC Policy Memorandum #2025-3 here.