If the House of Representatives gets its way, low-income mothers and their children will not have access to a wide range of certified organic foods. The Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act is up for renewal on Sept. 30, 2010 and mandates specific foods that must be included as part of the Women, Infants, Children Program. To date, the Senate version of the Act insists on the inclusion of a variety of organic foods for WIC recipients, while the House version includes only organic produce.

WIC is a federally funded, state-controlled initiative that provides nutritional assistance to low income pregnant and post-partum women and children up to age five who are nutritionally at risk. Each state decides which foods it will include on the list, though the federal government can mandate that certain food categories be on the list.

If the Senate version passes, low-income consumers would have access to foods that could ultimately provide lifelong benefits. “Final passage of the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act provides Congress a chance to address both unfinished business and new opportunities to promote healthy development,” said Charles Benbrook, PhD, chief scientist at the Organic Center, based in Boulder, Colo. “Providing easier access for moms, families and children to fresh, nutrient dense organic and locally grown fruits and vegetables is a key piece of unfinished business. Expanding access to organic dairy products will promote healthy brain and nervous system development because of the far healthier balance in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in organic dairy products,” he said.