January 6, 2014 Dear Seymour Swap and Sell; The Iowa WIC program is requesting your assistance in stopping the sales and trading of WIC benefits (foods, infant formula, checks, and/or cash-value vouchers) on social media sites. WIC local agencies continue to inform us that they personally have identified advertisements or have received information from the public regarding advertisements on social media sites for the sale of WIC benefits, particularly infant formula. The continued report of these actions indicates to the state WIC office and to USDA (the federal agency that administers the program) that this illegal activity is ongoing. WIC benefits are issued to pregnant, postpartum women, infants, and children who have been certified as eligible to participate in the program in accordance with federal regulations. WIC food instruments and cash-value vouchers may only be used by a WIC participant, a caregiver of an infant or child participant, or a designated proxy to purchase WIC eligible food items for the participant’s use. Any other use of WIC benefits, including the posting of WIC benefits for sale on the Internet, is evidence that the participant committed a participant violation and is therefore subject to Program sanctions. The USDA has consulted with their Office of General Counsel and requested that all national social media sites post a notice regarding the illegality of selling WIC benefits, particularly infant formula, on its website and that the WIC foods and benefits be added to its list of prohibited items. The state WIC office in the Iowa Department of Public Health is now requesting the same actions from local social media sites such as yours. Please remove all WIC foods, food instruments, and cash-value vouchers that are currently listed for sale on your site. In addition, while we realize that many users post anonymously, if you have contact information about the sellers that you are able to share, (names, email addresses, addresses and/or phone numbers), please send this information to my office and we will investigate further. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter. If you have questions or information to share, please contact me by phone at 515-281-7095 or email at [email protected]. Sincerely, Jill Lange, MPH, RD, LD State WIC Director
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 12:31:51 +0000
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