NYC Mayor Pushes Baby Formula Crackdown

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- In an effort to encourage mothers to breastfeed, the city of New York is locking up hospitals' stockpiles of infant formula.

Under a new program, reported by the New York Post, new mothers who insist on bottle-feeding will still be able to do so, but nurses would have to sign out the baby formula.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been criticized over the new policy, which is set to take effect in September.

Critics says the city shouldn't impose on a mother's choice to either breast feed or use formula. However, breastfeeding advocates says the policy is a good way to push the benefits of breast milk first.

The New York program is voluntary for hospitals.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that moms exclusively breast-feed for the first six months of a newborn's life to boost protection against many illnesses and allergies, CBS News reports.

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