New York has approved the first cholov Yisroel infant formula for purchase through the WIC program, the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty (MET) announced this week, capping a three-year campaign by the organization. The state is expected to add the formula to its official WIC list later this month.

The change could affect tens of thousands of families across New York annually, particularly in frum communities including Crown Heights, Borough Park, Williamsburg, Flatbush, Far Rockaway, Monsey, and Kiryas Joel.

“It’s a small technical change, but it’s obviously going to make a very significant difference by opening this up to the lowest-income New Yorkers who struggle to make ends meet,” Met Council CEO David Greenfield told JNS.

Rabbi Moshe Elefant, CEO of the Orthodox Union’s kosher division, told JNS that “the inclusion of a cholov Yisroel option for infant formula is an achievement that improves the lives of the most vulnerable New Yorkers.”

It is also “an important step in ensuring that the program delivers on its mandate to bring nutritious food to those in need,” he said.

The approval followed extensive discussions between Met Council and New York State health officials to explain the distinction between standard kosher certification and cholov Yisroel. Officials were initially unfamiliar with the fact that not all kosher certifications meet the same standards, and Met Council worked to explain why a separate cholov Yisroel option was necessary for frum families who rely on it.

“Once they understood it, they embraced this concept and the idea that this is something that is doable,” Greenfield said.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was also noted as being especially supportive of the effort, with officials in her administration described as “very receptive” throughout the process.

Met Council then worked with the state to identify a formula that met federal nutritional requirements. Previous cholov Yisroel formulas had fallen short of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s minimum iron requirement by 0.1 milligrams, requiring a formula that contained at least 1.5 milligrams of iron.

After further searching, Met Council located a qualifying formula manufactured by a British company that met all federal requirements while also carrying cholov Yisroel certification.