Thursday, October 1, 2026
For the first time in New York, Orthodox Jewish families will have access through the state’s Women, Infants and Children nutrition program, WIC, to a Cholov Yisroel infant formula — dairy produced under Jewish supervision.
The change could have particular significance in the Five Towns, where the UJA-Federation of New York’s 2023 Jewish Community Study estimates there are more than 40,000 Jewish families — 69 percent of whom identify as Orthodox Jews — including 15,000 Jewish children. Far Rockaway is another community noted for its Jewish population.
While Cholov Yisroel formulas exist, the products considered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture were 0.1 milligrams below the federal iron requirement, keeping them from being covered by WIC. Cholov Yisroel baby formula brands cost between $33 and $43, according to Western Kosher.
The Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, a Jewish nonprofit dedicated to fighting poverty, discovered the discrepancy in 2023 after one of its member agencies reported that WIC-eligible mothers were leaving stores without formula.
The change was approved by Gov. Kathy Hochul and state Health Commissioner James V. McDonald.
“For years, mothers were told that WIC would help them buy formula for their babies,” David G. Greenfield, chief executive officer of Met Council, said in a news release. “Not a single approved product was Cholov Yisroel.”
The Rina Shkolnik Kosher Food Pantry in Cedarhurst, is run by the Marion & Aaron Gural JCC. While the pantry does not accept WIC, Stacey Feldman, the JCC’s executive director, said the decision is significant for families who keep Cholov Yisroel.
“We are pleased that baby formula options have been expanded to include those that are Cholov Yisroel,” Feldman wrote in email. “Formula is an expensive item and now that it will be offered, it enables families to spend what little resources they may have on other items they need for their children which may not be covered.
Greenfield thanked Hochul, McDonald and the state Health Department for making the change, saying WIC “finally works for every New York family.”
“No mother should have to choose between keeping Cholov Yisroel and feeding her baby,” Greenfield wrote. “For the families affected, it is life changing.”
As of press time, the state health department did not reply for comment.
