Question:
My baby is 5 months old and is my wife is feeding her.
Periodically it’s necessary to give the baby milk formula for example we’re going out, or to keep her used to feeding from a bottle, or when she won’t nurse.
Baby formula has a very short shelf life, once open it has to be disregarded by 4 weeks.
We don’t use that much, which makes buying a tin quite costly because we throw out most of the tin. (the kosher line has stopped making a small container which suited us nicely)
The difference in price is £8 to £15 and even then we have to throw out most of the container.
Also the Cholov Stam version makes smaller packages which are cheaper and less expensive.
Given the above is it acceptable to buy the Cholov Stam formulas?
Answer:
The answer to your question really depends on why you are not using cholov stam. If it is because you hold like the poskim that rule that cholov stam is not permitted, or if it is only a preference. If you hold that it is not permitted, then you should still continue giving your child the cholov yisroel, even though it is more expensive. There is a practical solution for you to lower the cost, by splitting a can with another young mother, and take off what you need for the month. This way it won’t cost you much more. On the other hand, if your using cholov yisroel is only as a l’chatchila, then it is really up to you, and you have room to be lenient if money is tight, since there is a significant difference in price. It would however still be better to keep on using the cholov yisroel.
Best Wishes
Sources:
Shut Zekan Aharon 1-46, Minchas Elazar 4-25, MelamidL’hoil 30-4, Minchas Yitzchok 9-81, 10-31 (15), ChelkasYackov 2-37-38, Mishneh Halachos 4-103, Be’er Moshe 4:52, Teshuvos V’hanhugos 1:441, 2:373, Shevet Ha’Levi 4:87, Kinyan Torah 1:38, Chelkes Yaakov 34, Yalkut Yosef 9:pages 90-93, Sharei Toras Habayis page 98, Hakashrus K’halacha page 419:footnote 42, Chelkes Binyomin 115:16 are all strict regarding cholov stam. On the other hand R’ Moshe zt”l Igros Moshe Y:D 1-46, 49, says that it halachically permitted, however it is b’dieved. Also see Igros Moshe Y:D 2-35, where he was asked regarding a school serving cholov yisroel to its students, and over the year it would add to a significant expense. R’ Moshe writes there, that although it is more expensive, but the job of the school is to teach the students, and it will be a lesson for the students not to look for kulas, even when it is only a questionable issur.
