Nationwide Online Shopping for WIC Approved!

After years of planning and advocacy, the USDA updated a rule that forced people to shop for WIC in physical stores. Starting December 7, 2026, state WIC agencies can let families use their benefits online. This change can help nearly 7 million women, infants, and children across the country get their food more easily.

Washington Helped Lead the Way

Washington State WIC started working on this early. Using a special waiver, Washington teamed up with Walmart to test online ordering for WIC. Washington was one of the first states to test what the USDA has now made official for the whole country.

The test program started in spring 2025 at 67 Walmart stores in Washington. Families could order WIC-approved foods online for store pickup with no extra fee. They could also use the same online tool to set up home delivery if they paid the delivery fee.

Nutrition First and our members fought for this rule change for over three years. We shared stories and real experiences from local WIC staff and families with lawmakers. Seeing the USDA's final rule take effect shows the success of that hard work.

What the Pilot Showed

Early studies in Washington and Massachusetts showed a small increase in WIC participation during the test period. While this is good news, researchers say it is still too early to draw final conclusions from just a few months of data (Frontiers in Public Health).

In December 2025, the Washington Department of Health released a report on its test program. The results showed that online shopping helped families use more of their benefits. Families who ordered WIC online used 72% of their benefits on average. In comparison, in-store shoppers at Walmart or Fred Meyer used 65%, and all WIC families overall used 63%. Online shoppers also bought groceries more often—averaging 4.5 trips a month compared to 3.9 trips for in-store shoppers. Once families tried ordering online, most kept using it.

Families told evaluators that online shopping made life easier. They did not have to shop with young children in the store, saved valuable time, and avoided feeling judged at checkout. For parents who feel uneasy about paying with WIC in person, a private online option can make a huge difference in keeping them enrolled in the program.

Looking Ahead

With the rule now finalized, more retailers are preparing to bring WIC online! 

Nutrition First supports the new USDA rule. Washington families got an early look at online WIC shopping through the Walmart test program. Now, we look forward to seeing more stores offer this choice across our state.

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