Rochester receives 3,000 cans of free baby formula in Marine Park price gouging settlement

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Thousands of families in Rochester are set to receive a much-needed boost as part of a formula price gouging settlement. The settlement between New York and Marine Park will provide 3,000 cans of free baby formula to local families.

For families raising babies or small children, cans like these are critical. But in 2022, one out of three families said they were struggling to find and afford them.

Two years ago, a nationwide formula shortage left many families in distress — in part due to a large recall of formula made by Abbott Nutrition. It’s one of the largest baby formula manufacturers in the country.

One mother shared her experience, saying, “I went to like seven different stores looking for it and I could barely find it. Honestly, it kinda almost gets me choked up because it makes me scared.”

Marine Park nearly doubled its prices, making significant profits during the shortage. This prompted the New York State Attorney General’s office to take action.

“One mother who contacted our office said she paid $245 for a case of formula that was just $190 the week prior and even less prior to that,” said Leslie James from the AG’s office.

The investigation led to a settlement with Marine Park, resulting in $675,000 worth of formula for New Yorkers.

“We often say here that hunger is not about food. It is an economic problem, it’s a symptom of poverty and of discriminatory practices like price gouging,” said Julia Tedesco, CEO of Foodlink, the regional food bank responsible for storing and distributing the formula.

Foodlink will collaborate with the Healthy Baby Network and Mothers in Need of Others to ensure the formula reaches those who need it most.

“This is a timely donation,” said Sherita Bullock, president of Healthy Baby Network. “We’re in the middle of holidays where parents are making lots of choices about how they will provide food, dinner on Christmas day as well as gifts and toys for their children. So what this formula means, these 3,000 cans of formula that will go out across our community, means that there’s one less thing, a little bit easier life for our parents across our community.”

Rochester is the first place to receive this formula, with the rest being distributed across the state to areas in need over the next year.

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