Westchester Health Department Offers Baby Formula Advice, Resources

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — With the ongoing scarcity of baby formula in the United States, the Westchester County Health Department is offering some advice and resources for families dealing with shortages.

County medical officials urged residents to never dilute or water down infant formula in an attempt to extend their supply, never try to make formula at home or never use milk or toddler formula to feed infants.

While the federal Food and Drug Administration has announced plans to ease the national shortage of baby formula, it will take at least another six to eight weeks before an ample supply of formula is available on store shelves again, according to a spokeswoman.

County Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler said parents should never try to water down or stretch out formula, as tempting as it may be.

"It is not safe to do so," she said. "This practice can have severe consequences beyond malnourishment."

Amler, who is a pediatrician, said she's personally seen an infant who suffered seizures due to an electrolyte imbalance caused by diluted infant formula.

The Health Department said the public should be aware of a local resource. The New York Milk Bank in Valhalla collects breast milk from carefully screened donors, pasteurized and distributed to infants in need. Women looking to donate breast milk can also reach out to the New York Milk Bank to provide excess breast milk.

Clients of the Health Department’s WIC Program should contact their WIC clinic for support if their grocery store is out of their WIC infant formula. Yonkers WIC clients should call 914-231-2510 and Port Chester WIC clients should call 914-813-7244.

The Federal Government has issued the following links on their webpage to help families feed their babies:

Manufacturer Hotlines

• Gerber’s MyGerber Baby Expert: reach a certified nutrition or lactation consultant by phone, text, Facebook Messenger, web chat, or video call, who can help you identify a similar formula that may be more readily available.
• Abbott’s Consumer Hotline: call 1-800-986-8540
  
• Abbott’s urgent product request line: ask your OBGYN or your infant’s pediatrician to submit an urgent product request by downloading and completing the form - PDF.
• Reckitt’s Customer Service Line: call 1-800 BABY-123 (222-9123)
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Community Resources

• Locate your nearest Community Action Agency (CAA). Your neighborhood CAA may be able to provide you with formula or connect you with local agencies that have formula in stock.
• United Way’s 2-1-1: dial 2–1-1 to be connected to a community resource specialist affiliated with United Way who may be able to help you identify food pantries and other charitable sources of local infant formula and baby food.
• Feeding America: call your local food bank to ask whether they have infant formula and other supplies in stock.
• Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA): certain HMBANA-accredited milk banks are distributing donated breast milk to mothers in need; please note that some may require a prescription from a medical professional. Find an HMBANA-accredited milk bank.

WIC-Eligible Families

• Contact your local WIC office to identify or obtain additional sources of infant formula nearby.

General Guidance

• Call your OBGYN or pediatrician to see if they have in-office samples or can suggest a similar formula that may be more readily available in stores and is nutritionally similar to your infant’s typical formula.
• You should not water down formula, try to make formula at home, or use toddler formula to feed infants. Don’t discard formula unless it is expired or is part of the recall. Check your formula’s lot code to see whether or not it was affected by the recall.
• You can find more guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The Department of Health said it will continue to monitor the situation and communicate with families. For more information, support and WIC eligibility, visit the Health Department’s website.