NEW YORK, N.Y. โ New York State has approved the addition of the first Cholov Yisroel infant formula to its Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program, marking a significant policy change expected to benefit tens of thousands of Orthodox Jewish families throughout the state.
The New York State Department of Health confirmed that the new formula will be added to the state’s WIC formulary later this month. According to Met Council, the change follows a three-year advocacy campaign conducted in partnership with state officials under Governor Kathy Hochul and State Health Commissioner Dr. James V. McDonald.
The decision means eligible families who observe Cholov Yisroel dietary standards will, for the first time, be able to use their WIC benefits to purchase an approved infant formula that meets their religious requirements.
The policy change is expected to affect families in Orthodox Jewish communities including Boro Park, Williamsburg, Flatbush, Crown Heights, Far Rockaway, Monsey and Kiryas Joel, with additional families expected to benefit in future years as enrollment in WIC continues.
Closing a Longstanding Gap
The federal WIC program provides nutritional assistance to low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants and young children. While the program is federally funded, individual states determine which infant formulas qualify for reimbursement.
According to Met Council, New York’s approved formulary contained more than 40 infant formulas as of early 2026. Although many carried kosher certification, none met Cholov Yisroel standards.
As a result, Orthodox Jewish mothers who qualified for WIC benefits often found themselves unable to purchase formula acceptable under their family’s religious practices.
“This is a tremendous victory for frum families, and it happened because Governor Hochul’s administration listened and acted,” said David G. Greenfield, CEO of Met Council.
“I especially want to thank State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald for taking this issue seriously and working with us to get it fixed. For years, mothers were told that WIC would help them buy formula for their babies, but not a single approved product was Cholov Yisroel. Met Council identified the problem, found the solution, and kept pushing until New York fixed it.”
A Technical Barrier
According to Met Council, the obstacle preventing Cholov Yisroel formulas from qualifying was unexpectedly small.
Existing Cholov Yisroel formulas reportedly fell just 0.1 milligrams short of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s minimum iron requirement for WIC eligibility.
Because of that difference, no Cholov Yisroel product qualified for inclusion on New York’s approved list despite demand from eligible families.
Met Council said the breakthrough came in 2025 when Hannah Lupien, the organization’s Managing Director of Food Programs, identified a Cholov Yisroel infant formula that satisfied the USDA nutritional standards.
The organization subsequently presented the product to New York State officials for approval.
Three Years of Advocacy
According to Met Council, the issue first emerged during its annual Kosher and Halal Food Network conference in early 2023.
Representatives from community agencies reported that WIC-eligible mothers were leaving grocery stores without infant formula because none of the approved products complied with Cholov Yisroel requirements.
Met Council said its Food Programs and Public Policy teams then spent the next three years working with New York State officials, WIC advocates and infant formula manufacturers to identify a compliant product.
Greenfield described the final outcome as an example of cooperation between community organizations and government.
“No mother should have to choose between keeping Cholov Yisroel and feeding her baby,” Greenfield said.
“This may look like one more item on a government list. For the families affected, it is life-changing. It means a benefit they were always entitled to will finally work for them.”
Broader Community Impact
Met Council said the change reflects its broader mission of combining direct social services with public policy advocacy.
The organization operates what it describes as the largest kosher food pantry network in the United States, providing assistance to more than 350,000 individuals annually while advocating for policies intended to reduce food insecurity within the Jewish community.
Officials said the WIC decision builds upon previous advocacy efforts, including the creation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Kosher Foods in TEFAP webpage and an expansion in the number of kosher products available through the federal emergency food assistance program.
Looking Ahead
Met Council said it intends to continue working with local, state and federal agencies to identify additional barriers affecting Jewish families’ access to public assistance programs, including WIC, SNAP, school meal initiatives and emergency food assistance.
Greenfield said similar issues remain throughout government benefit programs.
“This is what effective government looks like,” he said.
“Governor Hochul and Commissioner McDonald heard that families were being left behind, reviewed the solution we brought them and took action. We are grateful to them and to the Department of Health team for making sure WIC finally works for every New York family.”
He added that the organization intends to continue pressing for reforms where public assistance programs fail to meet the practical needs of eligible recipients.
“There are still too many government programs that work on paper but fail families in practice,” Greenfield said. “Our job is to find those gaps and keep pushing until they are fixed, so that every family receives every benefit they qualify for.”
