New York City Councilmembers Julie Menin and Lynn Schulman along with 28 other members of the NYC Council’s Women’s Caucus penned a letter to Mayor Eric Adams, demanding that his administration address the current infant formula shortage.
The two requests of the Mayor addressed in the letter were that he sign an executive order to suspend procurement laws and regulations, allowing NYC to purchase formula internationally and domestically.
The second request was that Adams send City inspectors to grocery and retail stores to ensure that merchants are not selling existing formula stock at increased prices.
“As a mother of four and former Commissioner of the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) this is a personal issue for me,” said Council Member Julie Menin in the letter on May 17. “Price gouging can place infants at risk and the City needs to step in immediately by sending in DCWP inspectors and stop retailers who may be trying to profit off supply chain disruptions. New York City must expedite the purchasing of infant formula to ensure that New Yorkers in-need have a lifeline to critical nutrition for their newborns.”
Currently, many NYC mothers and caregivers are in direct danger of not being able to properly feed their children because of the formula shortage. The shortage was directly impacted by the recall of Abbott Nutrition – a leading formula manufacturer.
According to CBS, infant formula in the tristate area is over 40% out of stock. The New York State Department of Health stated that it was actively monitoring the national shortage and was also watching supply chain disruptions that may be impacting access.
“I have dedicated my personal and professional life to healthcare advocacy, and this is a time to advocate for new moms who are struggling to feed their newborns amidst a shortage of baby formula,” said Council Member Lynn Schulman, Chair of the City Council Health Committee. “As someone who previously worked with Healthcare workers and Moms of newborns in a hospital setting, I know how important baby formula is to the health and well-being of babies, and how important the steps we are advocating today will be to all New Yorkers.”
