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New York state Attorney General Letitia James presented $100,000-worth of baby formula to the Food Bank of Central New York during a Monday visit to Syracuse aiming to combat food insecurity in the region.

James announced that her office will distribute $675,000 worth of baby formula, or more than 7,000 cans, across the state per a legal settlement with formula supplier Marine Park, which illegally gouged the price of baby formula in 2022. She stood alongside NY-22 Rep. John Mannion, New York State Sen. Rachel May, Mayor-elect Sharon Owens and Syracuse Common Council members.

“We’re sending a message to individuals, not only to Marine Park, but to other individuals that you cannot take advantage of marginal and vulnerable families, particularly in a state of crisis,” James said.

A 2022 formula recall resulted in a nationwide shortage, after the country’s biggest formula maker, Abbott, found bacteria at its Michigan site. James launched an investigation after receiving reports of rising prices of baby formula.

The investigation found the supplier doubled the price of baby formula, charging up to $36 for a can, according to a Monday release. The supplier often raised formula prices 60% over what was legally allowed during the shortage.

Under New York state law, it’s illegal to overcharge customers for essential goods and services, especially under abnormal circumstances. James said she delivered different varieties of baby formula to the food bank and will deliver baby formula across 11 New York counties and in places such as Rochester and the Bronx.

Karen Belcher, the food bank’s president and chief executive officer , said the donation represents a much-needed resource for families throughout central New York and the Mohawk Valley.

Belcher said the food bank witnessed how “fragile” family budgets are during the recent 43-day government shutdown, where pauses to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits disrupted low-income families.

“This formula will make the journey from our food bank to pantries and distribution across our service area, and will soon be lessening a little bit of that heavy burden facing parents and families,” Belcher said.

Over 100,000 families in central New York depend on federal food programs, syracuse.com reported.

As a state senator, Mannion said he focused on strengthening the Women, Infants and Children program and expanding access to infant nutrition programs. He recognized the work of food pantries and the value of SNAP in improving the quality of life for New Yorkers.

“These programs help improve the health and the educational outcomes of our kids, of our families, and that provides the stability that they need in difficult moments,” Mannion said. “It’s a matter of public health and public safety, and providing access to baby formula is simply the right thing to do.”

Last week, James and 21 other Democratic state attorneys general sued the United States Department of Agriculture after federal orders to permanently cut food stamps for refugees and asylum seekers who are green card holders or permanent residents.

The USDA has no authority to exclude these groups from SNAP benefits, according to the lawsuit.

“It’s really critically important that we decided to sue the federal government in response to food stamps being withheld, and I want all of you to know we were successful,” James said.

James said her office has also received customer complaints about the price gouging of eggs, Lysol products and rental housing this year and is working to improve affordability throughout the state with ongoing investigations.

“It’s about affordability, it’s about, unfortunately, corporations who are taking advantage of vulnerable and marginalized populations and thinking more about their bottom line as opposed to thinking about the needs of New Yorkers,” James said.

Published on December 2, 2025 at 12:45 am
Contact Isabel: iamelend@syr.edu