What are the acceptable federal guidelines regarding the packing medium and inclusion of bones or skin for WIC canned fish?

May be packed in water or oil, and may include bones or skin

Federal requirements, which serve as the minimum standard for all state WIC agencies, allow for considerable latitude in how the eligible fish is preserved and prepared, provided the product adheres to FDA Standards of Identity. Specifically, the product can be packed either in water or in oil, meaning either option is permissible at the federal level. Furthermore, the federal rule explicitly permits the canned fish product to contain bones or skin. State agencies have the authority to impose stricter rules, such as requiring water-packing only or mandating boneless varieties for certain groups, but the foundational federal allowance covers both packing mediums and the inclusion of these natural components.