New York Attorney General Letitia James today delivered over $100,000 worth of baby formula from Marine Park Distribution, Inc. (Marine Park) for families in Central New York. The donation of more than 7,000 bottles and cans of formula is part of the $675,000 worth of baby formula that Attorney General James secured as a result of her settlement with Marine Park and its affiliate, Formula Depot, Inc. (Formula Depot), for illegal price gouging during the nationwide formula shortage in 2022. An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that Marine Park and Formula Depot raised prices of formula during the shortage in violation of New York’s price gouging laws. At times, Marine Park doubled the price of a can of formula, charging its customers up to $36 for a can of formula that cost $18 before the shortage. The OAG secured today’s donation for the Food Bank of Central New York, which serves families in need throughout the region.
“No parent should have to struggle to buy formula for their baby because corporations are attempting to profit from a crisis,” said Attorney General James. “Price gouging during an emergency is illegal, and my office will continue to go after any company that tries to take advantage of hardworking New Yorkers. As the holiday season approaches, I am proud to secure this donation of baby formula for Central New York families.”