Supplemental Foods.

(a)

Supplemental foods shall be prescribed for the participant from foods authorized by the Department according to the category and nutritional need of the participant.

(b)

The competent professional authority shall determine for each participant the appropriate supplemental foods, taking into consideration the participant's age and dietary needs.

(c)

The specific foods authorized shall be determined by the department based upon federal minimum nutrient requirements specified for the particular food group, programmatic needs, financial constraints, and space limitations on the face of the food instruments. The Department shall make every effort to minimize the number of specific foods authorized in order to avoid difficulty in complying with, and misunderstanding of, Program rules for food instrument usage by Program participants and food vendors. The Department shall authorize up to but not more than ten food types or ten food items with specific brand names on any food instrument. The following criteria shall be used by the Department to designate the specific foods authorized: