End Dates for Temporary Expanded Formula Options:​

Last Updated May 2, 2023​

In 2022, the California Department of Public Health/Women, Infants and Children Division (CDPH/WIC) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) started monitoring access to WIC formulas in response to periodic formula shortages that started earlier that year. CDPH/WIC worked closely with the USDA and California WIC formula contractors, Abbott and Mead Johnson, to help families get the formula they need. One action taken included temporarily adding more formula products to WIC's Authorized Product List (APL). This gave families more choices at the store during the shortages.

Following the period of 2022 shortages, the availability of infant formula in California has improved. California WIC contract formulas, Similac Advance, Similac Sensitive, and Similac Total Comfort, are now more accessible at WIC authorized stores. On December 19, 2022, the USDA announced a three-phase plan to end the temporary expanded WIC formula options. The phase out of the temporary expanded formula options will start March 1, 2023, and will be completed on July 1, 2023.

The list below shows which formulas will be removed from the APL on the following dates:

March 1, 2023: Standard Non-Contract Formulas

May 1, 2023: Larger sizes of Similac and Enfamil ProSobee

July 1, 2023: Therapeutic Formulas