https://doi.org/10.1177/0890334418797318 Journal of Human Lactation 1–5 © The Author(s) 2018 Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions DOI: 10.1177/0890334418797318 journals.sagepub.com/home/jhl Brief Original Report Background Breastfeeding is acknowledged as the best way to nourish an infant by many authorities, whether the mother is rich or poor (Victora et al., 2016). However, disparities among racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups continue to exist (Anstey, Chen, Elam-Evan, & Perrine, 2017). The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a program to provide healthy food to families deemed to be at nutritional risk and whose income is up to 185% of the U.S. federal poverty level (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, 2018). Although the program is federally funded, states have freedom in determining how to administer the benefits. More than 50% of infants born in the United States are eligible for WIC (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, 2015). Women who are eligible for WIC but do not enroll are found to breastfeed more frequently than those who do enroll (Anstey et al., 2017). Therefore, income is only one factor that affects infant feeding choices. Various interventions have been shown to increase the likelihood of breastfeeding by mothers enrolling in WIC (Houghtaling, Byker Shanks, & Jenkins, 2017). However, 68% of enrollees across the nation chose no breastfeeding at all for their infants (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, 2017a). The WIC food allowances given to mothers and infants are determined by whether the infant is fully breastfed, partially breastfed (at least once a day) or fully formula fed (FFF). These designations are for the 1st year after the birth of the child (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Supplemental Food Programs Division, 2017). 797318JHL XX X 10.1177/0890334418797318Journal of Human LactationBerkowitz research-article 2018 1 Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY, USA Date submitted: December 9, 2017; Date accepted: August 7, 2018. Corresponding Author: Shari Salzhauer Berkowitz, Mercy College, Program in Communication Disorders, 555 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522, USA Email: sberkowitz@mercy.edu Another Look at WIC’s Breastfeeding Data: State Totals Reveal More Than Regional Averages Shari Salzhauer Berkowitz, PhD, CCC-SLP, CLC 1 Abstract Background: Breastfeeding is known to be the most beneficial way of feeding infants, but 68% of the infants enrolled in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children are fully formula fed (FFF). Mandated annual reports about breastfeeding aggregate data from the states into regions, which obscures important information. Research Aim: The aim of this study is to reexamine the data supplied by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children to identify which areas of the United States have the lowest incidence of breastfeeding infants. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional observational study was conducted. Data from the Breastfeeding Data Local Agency Report were extracted, graphed, and analyzed. Results: Data provided from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children for fiscal year 2016 show that the range of FFF infants at the regional level is 60% to 78%, while at the state level the range is wider, at 51% to 89%. The states with the largest numbers of FFF infants were Mississippi (89%), Louisiana (88%), Alabama (88%), and Arkansas (87%). When examining data from all 90 reporting agencies, the range of FFF infants was 38% to 95%. Conclusions: Aggregating state, Native American nation, and territorial data at the regional level resulted in a loss of important information. WIC’s current breastfeeding interventions may be more effective in some areas than others. Future research can examine successful and unsuccessful interventions on a state or local level. Keywords breastfeeding, breastfeeding rates, Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, formula feeding