Mississippi WIC Program

About the Mississippi WIC Program

Mississippi WIC is administered by the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) and serves tens of thousands of families across all 82 Mississippi counties. The program operates through a network of local agencies, most located within county health departments. Mississippi WIC can be reached toll-free at 1-800-545-6747, or by calling the Ridgeland state office at (601) 991-6000.

Mississippi has a large rural population, and transportation and geographic access are real barriers for many eligible families. The online application option and the Pacify telelactation app are specifically intended to improve access for participants who cannot easily reach a WIC clinic in person.

Online Application — Apply From Your Phone or Computer

Mississippi was an early adopter of online WIC applications. The MSDH WIC page directs applicants to apply online from their phone or computer at msdh.ms.gov/wic. The online application takes 15-20 minutes and allows you to upload photos of required documents — proof of identity, residence, and income — directly through the form. Partially completed applications cannot be saved, so gather your documents before starting. To make an appointment after applying, call the WIC Call Center at 1-800-338-6747.

Pacify — Free Telelactation Support

Eligible Mississippi WIC participants have free, unlimited access to expert infant feeding support through the Pacify app — any time of day or night, including weekends and holidays. The app connects participants to live lactation consultants by chat or call, addressing the rural access challenge of finding in-person lactation support. Download Pacify from the App Store or Google Play and ask your WIC clinic for access instructions.

WICShopper App

Mississippi WIC participants can use the free WICShopper app — available on the App Store and Google Play — to simplify grocery shopping. Select Mississippi as your WIC agency and register your eWIC card in the app to scan product barcodes and check WIC eligibility in the store aisle, view your current benefit balance by food category, and find authorized store locations near you. MSDH specifically recommends this app on its WIC client resources page.

Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians — Tribal WIC Program

Mississippi has one federally recognized tribe: the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, headquartered in Choctaw (Neshoba County). The tribe operates its own Indian Tribal Organization (ITO) WIC program, separate from the state MSDH WIC program. Tribal members residing in Mississippi may enroll in either the tribal ITO WIC program or the state MSDH WIC program, depending on their location and preference. Contact your local WIC clinic or the MSDH WIC office at 1-800-545-6747 for guidance on which program serves your area.

Frequently Asked Questions — Mississippi WIC

Mississippi WIC Income Limits 2026

Pregnant Women Count as Two

If you are pregnant, Mississippi WIC counts you as two household members — yourself and the unborn child. If expecting multiples, count each baby separately. This increases your household size for income calculation purposes and can shift you into a more favorable income tier.

Automatic Income Eligibility

If your household participates in any of the following programs, you automatically meet WIC income guidelines — no separate income documentation is required:

• Medicaid — Mississippi's Medicaid program
• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program / food stamps)
• TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)

Bring your current benefit card or enrollment documentation to your WIC appointment. That alone satisfies the income requirement.

Income Documentation if Not Auto-Eligible

If your household does not participate in Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF, Mississippi WIC accepts any of the following as proof of income:

• A current pay stub less than 60 days old
• A signed statement from an employer indicating gross income earnings for a specified pay period
• Current W-2 forms
• An income tax return for the most recent year

Mississippi WIC uses gross income before any deductions.

Mississippi WIC does not ask about citizenship or immigration status. Free interpretation services and translation of materials are available upon request — call 1-800-545-6747.

Mississippi WIC Approved Foods

Mississippi WIC food benefits are loaded onto an eWIC card and accepted at authorized grocery stores and pharmacies across all 82 Mississippi counties. Your specific monthly food package is determined at your certification appointment based on your participant category — pregnant, breastfeeding, postpartum, infant, or child — and a nutritional assessment. Use the free WICShopper app to check your benefit balance and scan products at the shelf before checkout.

Milk

Mississippi WIC milk is restricted to store-declared brands only — nationally advertised brands of fluid milk are not covered. Your shopping list specifies which brand is authorized at your store. Any combination of gallon and half-gallon containers is allowed; quarts are only permitted when specifically noted on your eWIC card.

Fat level is determined by participant category:

• Children 12–23 months: whole milk only
• Children 2–5 years and women: fat-free (skim) or 1% low-fat only

Chocolate milk, lactose-free or lactose-reduced milk, and calcium-enriched milk are all allowed within these fat-level requirements.

Special milk options (must be added to your eWIC card by a certifier):

• Evaporated milk (canned): 12-oz. cans — Carnation and Pet brands only
• Dry milk (powdered): 9.6-oz. box
• Ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk: quart size

Soy Beverage (requires certifier authorization): available in qualifying circumstances. Choose half-gallon refrigerated cartons from these brands only:

• 8th Continent: Original or Vanilla flavor only
• Silk: Original flavor only

Yogurt

Mississippi WIC yogurt is divided into two tiers based on participant age, each with its own fat requirement and brand list. Yogurts that are organic, drinkable, or contain granola, candy, honey, or nuts are not allowed. "Non-dairy" and "slushy" versions are not allowed.

Whole Yogurt — Children 12–23 Months
Must be one-quart (32-oz.) containers only. Approved brands:

• Chobani, Plain Whole Milk Greek
• Dannon, All Natural Whole Milk
• Dannon Oikos, Plain Whole Milk Greek
• Kroger, Whole Milk Plain; Whole Milk Vanilla

Nonfat or Lowfat Yogurt (0%–2% fat) — Women and Children Two Years and Older
Must be one-quart (32-oz.) containers, except for Yoplait Go-Gurt (see sizes below). Approved brands and flavors:

• Chobani: Plain Greek Nonfat, Strawberry Blended Greek Nonfat, Vanilla Blended Greek Nonfat, Peach Blended Greek Nonfat, Plain Greek Lowfat
• Dannon: Plain Lowfat, Vanilla Lowfat
• Lala: Lala Lowfat
• Dannon Oikos: Plain Greek Nonfat, Vanilla Greek Nonfat, Triple Zero Blended Greek Vanilla
• Dannon Light & Fit: Vanilla Nonfat, Strawberry Nonfat, Vanilla Greek Nonfat, Plain Greek Nonfat
• Yoplait: Original Strawberry Lowfat, Original Vanilla Lowfat, Original Harvest Peach Lowfat, Original Strawberry Banana Lowfat
• Yoplait Go-Gurt: any flavor — approved sizes: one 16-pack (2-oz. servings) or two 8-packs (2-oz. servings)
• Kroger: Plain Nonfat, Blended Vanilla Lowfat, Blended Plain Lowfat
• Great Value: Original Lowfat, Original Strawberry Lowfat, Original Strawberry Banana Lowfat, Original Plain Nonfat

Cheese

One pound (16-oz.) package of the store-declared brand. May be block, hoop, cubed, shredded, sliced, or string. Low-fat, low-cholesterol, or low-sodium varieties are allowed. Approved varieties:

• Processed American
• Cheddar
• Colby
• Colby-Jack
• Monterey Jack
• Mozzarella
• Swiss

Eggs

One dozen containers of the store-declared brand. Must be Grade-A, large.

Cereal

Choose 11 oz.–36 oz. boxes or bags only, in any combination that does not exceed 36 total ounces. Approved brands and varieties:

General Mills: Cheerios (Original, Multigrain), Chex (Corn, Rice), Kix (Original, Honey, Berry Berry), Total, Wheaties

Malt O Meal: Mini Spooners (Frosted, Strawberry Cream)

Quaker: Oatmeal Squares (Brown Sugar, Cinnamon, Golden Maple), Life (Original, Vanilla, Strawberry)

Kellogg's: Crispx Original; Special K (Original, Multigrain with a Touch of Cinnamon, Honey Almond, Ancient Grains); Corn Flakes; Rice Krispies Original; All-Bran Complete Wheat Flakes; Frosted Mini Wheats (Original, Little Bites, Filled Mixed Berry, Blueberry, Strawberry, Pumpkin Spice, Cinnamon Roll); Kashi (Warm Cinnamon, Honey Toasted)

Grainberry: Original Toasted Oats, Honey Nut Toasted Oats, Multi-Bran Flakes, Apple Cinnamon Toasted Oats, Shredded Wheat, Cinnamon Frosted Shredded Wheat

Post: Grape-Nuts (Original, Flakes), Great Grains (Banana Nut Crunch, Crunchy Pecan), Honey Bunches of Oats (with Almonds, Honey Roasted, with Vanilla Bunches)

Whole Grains

Whole Wheat Pasta — One pound (16-oz.) package, any brand and shape. The ingredient list must show 100% whole wheat flour and/or durum wheat flour as the only flours.

Whole Grain Tortillas — One pound (16-oz.) package. Whole wheat or corn tortillas from these brands:

• Celia's: Whole Wheat Tortillas, Corn Tortillas
• La Banderita: Whole Wheat Tortillas, Corn Tortillas
• Mission: Whole Wheat Tortillas, Corn Tortillas

Whole Grain Rice — One pound (14–16 oz.) bag or box. Any brand. Regular, instant, or boil-in-bag.

Whole Wheat Bread — One pound (16-oz.) package. Approved brands:

• Nature's Own, 100% Whole Wheat
• Nature's Own, 100% Whole Wheat with Honey
• Pepperidge Farm, Very Thin Whole Grain
• Sara Lee, 100% Whole Wheat
• Wonder, 100% Whole Wheat
• Arnold, 100% Whole Grain Sliced Buns

Juice

Mississippi WIC juice benefits cover two formats, with different sizes and brand lists by participant category. All juice must be 100% juice without added sweeteners. No fruit punch, fruit drink, or drink-ades. Juice may contain added calcium.

Frozen Concentrate and Pourable Concentrate — Women Only
11.5–12 oz. frozen concentrate and 11.5 oz. non-frozen pourable concentrate. Approved brands:

• Dole: Pineapple
• Old Orchard: all flavors (green lids only)
• Seneco: Apple
• Any brand: Orange (100% only)
• Welch's: Grape, Apple, Tropical Passion

Shelf-Stable 100% Juice

• 48 oz. containers: women only
• 64 oz. containers and 64 oz. refrigerated containers: children only

Approved brands: Juicy Juice (all flavors), Lucky Leaf (Apple), Northland (Cranberry and Blends), Seneca (Apple), Libby's (Pineapple), Welch's 48 oz. (Grape, Red Grape, White Grape), Oceanspray (all flavors), any brand Orange (100% only)

Fruits and Vegetables — Cash Value Benefit

Mississippi WIC provides a monthly cash value benefit for fruits and vegetables. The benefit amount is shown on your WIC shopping list and varies by participant category.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: any variety of whole or cut fresh fruits or vegetables. Bagged vegetables of any size — including bagged carrots and salad greens — are allowed.

Frozen Vegetables: any size or package type. Any plain vegetables or plain vegetable mixtures without white potatoes. Beans or mixtures with beans or peas (such as mixed vegetables with lima beans) are included.

Frozen Fruits: any brand or package size of whole or cut frozen fruits.

Canned Vegetables: any size. Plain vegetables and plain vegetable mixtures, including green (sweet) peas, green beans, snap beans, wax beans, and yellow beans.

Canned Tomato Products: any size. Whole, diced, crushed, or stewed tomatoes; tomato sauce, paste, or puree.

Canned Fruit: any brand, any container type. Must be packed in water, juice, or fruit juice concentrate. Applesauce must be no-sugar-added or unsweetened varieties only.

Note: Canned beans, peas, and lentils are covered under the Beans and Legumes benefit — they are not part of the fruit and vegetable cash value allowance.

Mississippi WIC specifically notes that three key nutrients found in WIC foods — vitamin C, iron, and calcium — may help limit the body's absorption of lead, which can be very dangerous for young children and pregnant women. Fruits and vegetables are a primary source of vitamin C in the WIC package, making this benefit especially important for the health of Mississippi families.

Beans and Legumes

Canned and dried beans and legumes are included as a plant-based protein source. Canned varieties must be 15–16 oz. containers; dried must be 16-oz. containers. No added sugar, fat, oil, or meat. Any brand. Approved types: black beans, great northern beans, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, fava beans, mung beans, pinto beans, white beans, black-eyed peas, split peas, chickpeas, and lentils.

Peanut Butter

One pound (15–16 oz.) container, any brand. May be creamy, crunchy, or extra crunchy.

Fish — Breastfeeding Women Only

Canned fish must be added to the eWIC card and is available only for women who exclusively breastfeed. Two species are covered:

• Canned Tuna: any brand light tuna, chunk style, packed in water — 5 oz., 6 oz., and 7.5 oz. cans
• Canned Salmon: any brand pink salmon — 5 oz., 6 oz., 7.5 oz., and 14.75 oz. cans

Infant Foods

Infant Formula: The WIC Shopping List shows the brand, size, form (powder or concentrate), and quantity to purchase. No substitutions are allowed.

Dry Infant Cereal: Choose Gerber or Beech-Nut, 8 oz. only. No added fruit, DHA, or other additives. Available grain types: Oatmeal, Rice, Multigrain, Whole Wheat.

Infant Fruits and Vegetables: Any second-stage, single-ingredient infant fruits and vegetables. No added sugar, starches, salt, or DHA. Any combination of packages or jars up to the total ounces received per month, in these brands and sizes only:

• Beech-Nut (Nothing Artificial Added): 4 oz. jar
• Gerber: 8 oz. (2 packs of 4 oz.)
• Earth's Best Organic Stage 1: 4 oz. jar

Infant Meats — Exclusively Breastfed Infants Only: Includes plain chicken, turkey, ham, and beef. No meat and vegetable or meat and pasta mixtures. No DHA. No meat sticks. Available in 2.5 oz. containers from these brands:

• Beech-Nut Stage 1: Meat with broth
• Gerber 2nd Foods: Meat with gravy
• Earth's Best Organic Stage 1: Chicken, Turkey

WICShopper App

Download the free WICShopper app from the App Store or Google Play. To set up the app:

1. Search for WICShopper in your app store.
2. Select Mississippi as your WIC agency.
3. Register your Mississippi eWIC card in the app.

Once registered, you can scan product barcodes in the store aisle to check WIC eligibility before placing items in your cart, view your current benefit balance by food category, and find authorized WIC stores near you. MSDH specifically recommends the WICShopper app on its WIC client resources page as the primary tool for navigating WIC shopping in Mississippi.

Lead Absorption and WIC Nutrition

Mississippi WIC highlights a specific public health message about lead and nutrition: three key nutrients in the WIC food package — vitamin C, iron, and calcium — may help limit the body's absorption of lead. Lead exposure can be particularly harmful for young children and pregnant women. The WIC food package is designed in part to ensure participants receive adequate levels of these protective nutrients. MSDH links to lead poisoning prevention resources directly from its WIC client tools page.