Historic: Major Breakthrough for Thousands of Frum Families Across New York State as WIC Approves Cholov Yisroel Infant Formula

YSR.

A major and long-awaited breakthrough is coming for thousands of frum families across New York State, as WIC will begin covering Cholov Yisroel infant formula for the first time. The historic change will open a valuable benefit to families who until now qualified for formula assistance but could not use it for the Cholov Yisroel formula they give their children. 

The New York State Department of Health is expected to place the first Cholov Yisroel formula on its approved WIC list later this month, following action by the Hochul administration and the Department of Health under Commissioner Dr. James McDonald. The change is expected to make a real difference for thousands of families throughout all heimshe neighborhoods across the state. 

The formula being approved is Baby’s Only Infant Formula, a milk-based powder with iron distributed by Mehadrin. The formula is Cholov Yisroel and bears kosher certification, making it an option for families who maintain Cholov Yisroel standards.

For years, there was a glaring problem for families in our community using WIC. A mother could qualify for assistance specifically intended to help feed her infant, receive formula benefits on her WIC card, and still be unable to use those benefits for the formula her family actually relied on. With no Cholov Yisroel option approved, many families simply had to purchase their formula separately and pay the tremendous cost themselves. 

Remarkably, what stood in the way was not a broad policy against Cholov Yisroel products, but a tiny nutritional technicality. The available Cholov Yisroel formulas were reportedly just 0.1 milligrams below the federal minimum iron requirement needed for WIC approval. That small difference was enough to leave the products outside the program and, in turn, leave an important WIC benefit out of reach for so many frum families across New York State.

Getting that changed took roughly three years of behind-the-scenes work. Met Council pushed the issue together with state health officials, WIC advocates, and formula manufacturers, and identified a product that could satisfy the federal requirements while remaining Cholov Yisroel. That effort has now brought the change that will clear the regulatory requirements and enter New York’s WIC program. 

Met Council CEO David Greenfield hailed the development as a massive victory for frum families, stressing that its importance goes far beyond another item being added to a government list. He described the change as “life-changing” for the families affected, who will now be able to make practical use of a benefit that had already been available to them in theory for years.

Once the new approval takes effect later this month, families who depend on WIC will no longer have to see their formula benefit go unused simply because they keep Cholov Yisroel. For thousands of homes across our communities, the change means meaningful savings on an essential expense and, after years of advocacy, a government benefit that finally works for them the way it was meant to.