The American Bakers Association (ABA) has submitted a request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture seeking to include bread loaves 20-oz to 24-oz for inclusion within the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC). Whole wheat bread has been submitted for acceptance to WIC for the first time, along with a suggestion from ABA that the 16-oz recommended loaf size should be increased to accommodate the extra weight incurred when bread is baked using whole grain products.

In his written comments to ABA, Lee Sanders, ABA senior vice president, government relations & public affairs said bakers are “concerned over the restrictive loaf weight increments included in USDA’s proposal. Typically, whole grain bread loaves weigh more than one pound, or 16 ounces. Therefore, ABA recommends changing the allowable weight to two, 24 ounce loaves for both women and children in the program.”