NEW YORK: Major Win for Frum Families as WIC Approves Cholov Yisroel Formula

In a landmark change for frum families across New York, the state’s Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program will begin covering Cholov Yisroel infant formula for the first time, ending a longstanding barrier that left many eligible families unable to use their benefits for formula that met their religious standards.

The New York State Department of Health confirmed that the first Cholov Yisroel infant formula will be added to the state’s WIC formulary later this month following approval by Governor Kathy Hochul and under the leadership of State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald.

The change is expected to benefit thousands of Orthodox Jewish families throughout New York, including communities in Monsey, Kiryas Joel, Boro Park, Williamsburg, Flatbush, Crown Heights, Catskills and Far Rockaway.

Until now, while New York’s WIC program covered more than 40 infant formulas, none were Cholov Yisroel-certified. As a result, many WIC recipients in the frum community qualified for benefits but could not use them to purchase formula that complied with their family’s religious standards.

According to Met Council, the issue stemmed from federal nutritional requirements. Existing Cholov Yisroel formulas previously fell just 0.1 milligrams short of the USDA’s minimum iron requirement, preventing them from qualifying for inclusion in New York’s WIC program.

The change follows a three-year advocacy effort led by Met Council, which worked with the New York State Department of Health, WIC advocates and infant formula manufacturers to identify a Cholov Yisroel formula that meets all federal nutritional standards.

“This may look like one more item on a government list, but for the families affected, it is life-changing,” said Met Council CEO David Greenfield. “It means a benefit they were always entitled to will finally work for them.”

Met Council said the effort began after community organizations reported that WIC-eligible mothers were leaving stores without formula because none of the approved products met their religious requirements.

The organization says it will continue advocating for improvements to government nutrition and food assistance programs to ensure eligible families can fully utilize the benefits available to them.

The only Cholov Yisroel formula is the Mehandrin product listed below.