Findings from the 2025 Multi-State WIC Participant Satisfaction Survey
Presentation Type
Poster
Presentation Type
Submission
Department
Nutritional Science
Abstract
The 2025 Multi-State WIC Participant Satisfaction Survey (MSPS), conducted online from June through September 2025, is in its third iteration and explored participants' experiences and satisfaction with WIC, shopping for WIC foods, using the WIC Card and App, perceptions of the Cash Value Benefit for fruits and vegetables, and perceptions of recent WIC food package changes. The online survey was administered through Qualtrics and included 46 questions and was available in four languages: English, Spanish, Arabic, and Haitian Creole. The final analytical sample included 56,000 WIC participants from 27 WIC State Agencies who participated in the survey. Results showed that fruits, vegetables, and other foods provided by WIC were the top reason for participation, and WIC participation changed how participants feed themselves or their families. The top two reasons for participating in WIC were the fruits and vegetables they received, followed by other foods in the WIC food packages. Most (82%) also participated for the education, information and support provided by WIC staff, and two-thirds for the WIC classes and group sessions. While there is high overall satisfaction among participants, there are areas where WIC can improve upon. WIC participants experienced challenges shopping for WIC foods, and the most common problems included difficulty finding WIC foods in stores (66%), preferring brands not being available (60%) at WIC approved stores, inconsistent WIC-approved items across stores (58%), and arriving at the register without the right items (55%). These findings and others from the MSPS survey will inform USDA and state efforts to increase program participation, retention, and improve receipt of health benefits by women, infants, and children across the U.S.
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Loan Kim
Funding Source or Research Program
Summer Undergraduate Research Program
Location
Waves Cafeteria
Start Date
10-4-2026 1:00 PM
End Date
10-4-2026 2:00 PM
Findings from the 2025 Multi-State WIC Participant Satisfaction Survey
Waves Cafeteria
The 2025 Multi-State WIC Participant Satisfaction Survey (MSPS), conducted online from June through September 2025, is in its third iteration and explored participants' experiences and satisfaction with WIC, shopping for WIC foods, using the WIC Card and App, perceptions of the Cash Value Benefit for fruits and vegetables, and perceptions of recent WIC food package changes. The online survey was administered through Qualtrics and included 46 questions and was available in four languages: English, Spanish, Arabic, and Haitian Creole. The final analytical sample included 56,000 WIC participants from 27 WIC State Agencies who participated in the survey. Results showed that fruits, vegetables, and other foods provided by WIC were the top reason for participation, and WIC participation changed how participants feed themselves or their families. The top two reasons for participating in WIC were the fruits and vegetables they received, followed by other foods in the WIC food packages. Most (82%) also participated for the education, information and support provided by WIC staff, and two-thirds for the WIC classes and group sessions. While there is high overall satisfaction among participants, there are areas where WIC can improve upon. WIC participants experienced challenges shopping for WIC foods, and the most common problems included difficulty finding WIC foods in stores (66%), preferring brands not being available (60%) at WIC approved stores, inconsistent WIC-approved items across stores (58%), and arriving at the register without the right items (55%). These findings and others from the MSPS survey will inform USDA and state efforts to increase program participation, retention, and improve receipt of health benefits by women, infants, and children across the U.S.