By 5 Towns Central Staff

NEW YORK STATE (August 13, 2026)

Thousands of frum families across New York are set to gain access to a long-awaited WIC benefit as the state prepares to approve Cholov Yisroel infant formula for the first time.

The New York State Department of Health is expected to add Baby’s Only Infant Formula, distributed by Mehadrin, to its approved WIC formula list later this month. The milk-based formula contains iron, carries kosher certification and is Cholov Yisroel, making it suitable for families who maintain those standards.

Until now, families who qualified for WIC formula assistance often had no approved Cholov Yisroel option available to them. That meant parents could receive formula benefits through WIC but still have to purchase the formula their families use out of pocket.

The issue came down to a surprisingly small nutritional difference. According to advocates involved in the effort, existing Cholov Yisroel formulas were about 0.1 milligrams below the federal iron requirement for WIC eligibility. Despite the tiny gap, the products could not be included in the program.

Changing that situation took years of advocacy and coordination. Met Council worked with state health officials, WIC advocates and formula manufacturers to find a Cholov Yisroel product that could meet the federal requirements and qualify for the program.

The effort has now paved the way for the first Cholov Yisroel formula to be included in New York’s WIC program.

Met Council CEO David Greenfield praised the development as a major victory for kosher families, saying the change will have a meaningful financial impact on parents who depend on WIC to help cover the high cost of feeding their infants.

The initiative also received support from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration and New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald.

For eligible families, the change means they will no longer have to choose between using their WIC benefit and purchasing the formula that meets their religious standards. Instead, they will be able to use the assistance for an approved Cholov Yisroel option.

After years of advocacy, the upcoming approval represents a significant change for families throughout New York’s frum communities and could provide meaningful savings on one of the most essential expenses facing parents of young children.