SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF. – The Add Milk! nutrition incentive program, which gives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants a dollar-for-dollar match when they purchase low-fat or non-fat milk, is set to launch in select California grocery stores.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) shared that the Healthy Fluid Milk Incentive (HFMI) program, Add Milk!, will be available at 78 Mother’s Nutritional Center locations throughout Southern California.

The Hunger Solutions Institute (HSI) at Auburn University’s College of Human Sciences launched the Add Milk! program in Alabama in 2023. It is made possible by a $3 million cooperative agreement between the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and HSI as part of the larger HFMI Projects. The 2018 Farm Bill established the HFMI pilot program to help promote milk within the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

In California, SNAP participants may use CalFresh EBT to purchase non-fat and low-fat (1%) milk products, including lactose-free options. The participants can receive as much as $10 in rewards per transaction to go toward other CalFresh EBT eligible items.

By the end of 2024, HFMI pilot projects will be operating in 700-plus locations in the US.

IDFA noted that roughly one out of eight California residents participates in SNAP, and milk products are linked to improved bone health, especially in children and adolescents. The organization also pointed out that the USDA credits milk and milk products with adding nutrients such as calcium, vitamin D (for products fortified with vitamin D) and potassium to the diet.