What is the WIC infant formula rebate system?
Mothers participating in WIC are encouraged to breastfeed their infants if possible, but WIC State agencies provide infant formula for mothers who choose to use this feeding method. WIC State agencies are required by law to have competitively bid infant formula rebate contracts with infant formula manufacturers. This means WIC State agencies agree to provide one brand of infant formula and in return the manufacturer gives the State agency a rebate for each can of infant formula purchased by WIC participants. The brand of infant formula provided by WIC varies by State agency depending on which company has the rebate contract in a particular State.

By negotiating rebates with formula manufacturers, States are able to serve more people. For fiscal year 2010, rebate savings were $1.7 billion, supporting an average of 1.9 million participants each month, or 20.5% of the estimated average monthly caseload.

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1. What is "nutritional risk"?
2. What is the WIC infant formula rebate system?