I am honored to share this guest post by Charlotte Vallaeys, former of Director of Farm and Food Policy at the Cornucopia Institute and now a Senior Analyst within the Consumer Safety and Sustainability Program at Consumers Union. This is the truth about organic infant formulas that currently exist on the market today and something that needs to be read by every mother-to-be, mothers and fathers everywhere. Unfortunately, choosing an infant formula that is organic is not enough – you must look deeper and understand the ingredients manufacturers are using in their products. Charlotte shares the exact ingredients you need to look out for and how to find the safest organic infant formula available. She holds Masters degrees from Harvard University and Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition.
Some of my favorite memories of my sons as babies (which was not that long ago—they are 2 and 4 years old) involve breastfeeding. It is a truly magical and priceless bonding experience. And for someone who loves good, “real” food as much as I do, there could be nothing more satisfying and empowering than that tingling feeling that accompanies the milk ducts springing into action to produce fresh milk, full of just the right mix of enzymes, nutrients, antibodies, hormones, and other beneficial components that have yet to be discovered—the product of millions of years of evolution, specially made for my baby to ensure he’ll grow and thrive.
But we also faced many obstacles along the way. The challenges started in the hospital with my firstborn and continued up to the moment my lastborn sipped his last drop of human milk.
My oldest, Liam, would not latch on at first. I had expected breastfeeding to be easy—it was, after all, so “natural”—but there I was, a brand new mom with an hours-old baby, struggling to get my newborn to latch on. Those first hours of motherhood ushered in the realization that, in parenthood, not everything will go as planned.
After involving many contraptions, including a hospital-grade breast pump, specialized bottles, and a silicone “nipple shield,” and many different nurses’ and lactation consultants’ advice (not to mention a lot of maternal determination), we finally—after a couple of days—made it work.
When Liam was 9 weeks old, I discovered blood in his diaper and disregarded our pediatrician’s advice to switch from breastfeeding to hypoallergenic formula (she claimed he was allergic to milk, including his mother’s milk). Instead, I continued breastfeeding but cut all dairy and soy out of my diet until Liam’s first birthday.
Among other challenges, we weathered two bouts of painful mastitis and many days of separation for work-related trips that required a freezer full of pumped milk.
The challenges continued until the very end, and unfortunately, my final memories of breastfeeding are also the most painful. When he was 9 months, my second son, Kai, decided to wean on his own. I had heard about “self-weaning,” and until I was faced with an uninterested and stubborn infant, I thought it was just a clever excuse for mothers to switch to more convenient formula feeding. Again, it was a stark reminder that many things about parenthood are easier said than done, and so much of what happens on this journey is entirely out of our control.
I suppose I was more stubborn than Kai, and he eventually became hungry and thirsty enough that he would feed. But he responded by reluctantly drinking and then ending the session with a bite. After a couple of weeks of very tense—and often painful—feeding sessions, I switched to pumping and giving my milk to Kai from a bottle. I grimaced every time I saw him bite down on that rubber nipple. Eventually, after a couple more weeks, I produced no more milk, and that bottle needed something in it for the remaining weeks until we could switch to organic whole milk.
All this baby-feeding drama happened while I worked as a researcher and policy analyst with The Cornucopia Institute. Cornucopia acts as a watchdog for the organic community. As I carefully read labels in the baby food aisle of my local food store, I couldn’t help but notice numerous violations of the organic standards. I avoided these baby foods with multiple unapproved synthetic ingredients. Meanwhile, Cornucopia took a leading role in advocating for the removal of unnecessary or potentially harmful synthetics from organic formula and baby food.
This blog post is for parents, grandparents and others who want more information on organic infant formula. I’d like to share what I learned both as Policy Director at Cornucopia and as a mom looking for the best food for my own babies.
Without a doubt, human milk and factory-produced infant formula don’t compare, as human milk is far superior in so many respects, including in ways we will probably never fully comprehend. We can all agree on that. But in parenthood, many things don’t go as planned, and for many committed, food-conscious, organic-buying parents, that includes breastfeeding.
I will only cover organic formula, and I hope that readers will understand that while there are many problems in this segment of the organic industry, organic formula is still a far better choice than conventional formula, with its genetically engineered ingredients (GMOs), milk from cows that were likely treated with antibiotics or artificial growth hormones, and oils that were processed with the use of neurotoxic solvents like hexane. Major ingredients in conventional formula are derived from crops that were sprayed with harmful pesticides and herbicides in the field and likely fumigated in storage.
Organic formula offers an alternative, but it is far from perfect. I hope that parents will find the information here useful if faced with the tough decision to turn to formula.
The Organic Formula Industry
If you need formula and can’t make your own, you likely want to know how to purchase the best one.
While there are seven brands of organic infant formula currently available on market shelves, there are only three companies that make organic infant formula in the United States.
One manufacturer is PBM Nutritionals, owned by Perrigo. At $3 billion in annual sales, Perrigo is the world’s largest manufacturer of private label (store-brand) over-the-counter pharmaceuticals. PBM primarily produces conventional formula, but makes organic formula for its own Vermont Organics and Bright Beginnings brands. It also manufacturers organic formula for Hain Celestial’s Earth’s Best brand, Whole Foods Market’s 365 Organic brand, and Walmart’s Parent’s Choice brand.
Similac Organic is manufactured by Abbott Laboratories. Abbott, a major manufacturer of pharmaceuticals in the U.S., introduced Similac Organic in 2006. By 2007, its first full year on sale, Similac Organic captured 36% of the organic formula market. Abbott’s Similac is a market leader in conventional formula.
Finally, Baby’s Only Organic is developed and marketed by Nature’s One. Nature’s One markets Baby’s Only Organic formula as a “toddler formula” rather than an infant formula (according to the company, this is done to encourage breastfeeding until age 1). Its products meet the same nutritional standards that the FDA sets forth for infant formula. Nature’s One is the only company marketing organic formula that is not a publicly traded corporation; the business is family-owned and operated.
Top five ingredients to take a close look at – how do organic brands compare?
1. Sweeteners: corn syrup, sugar, or brown rice syrup
Formula manufacturers strive to formulate a product that mirrors the nutritional profile of human milk. Human milk contains higher levels of lactose, a carbohydrate, than cow milk, which means that formula manufacturers must make up the difference by adding a sweetener to cow milk-based formula.
But in their choice of sweetener, it appears that concerns over the availability and price of the various sources have taken precedence. The sweetener that most closely mimics human milk would be lactose (the naturally occurring carbohydrate in any mammal’s milk). But lactose is also the most expensive, and manufacturers have, over the years, switched from this milk-based sweetener to plant-based sweeteners.
Corn syrup
When PBM Nutritionals first rolled out its organic infant formula under the Bright Beginnings brand name, it contained only organic lactose, with no corn-based sweeteners. PBM soon produced the same product for Walmart, under the Parent’s Choice brand name, which also contained only organic lactose.
But PBM Nutritionals switched from organic lactose as the sole sweetener for Bright Beginnings, and so did Walmart’s organic formula, in 2010. Their formulations changed to include both ‘organic corn syrup solids’ and lactose.
By 2011, organic lactose in Bright Beginnings and Parent’s Choice had disappeared altogether, replaced by organic maltodextrin, another plant-based sweetener. Maltodextrins are partially hydrolyzed starch molecules, which can be derived from corn, rice or potatoes. Maltodextrin is less sweet than corn syrup.
Today, Bright Beginnings, Parent’s Choice and Whole Foods’ 365 Organic contain no organic lactose at all—only plant-based (mostly corn-based) carbohydrates.
A similar move away from organic lactose happened with Earth’s Best and Vermont Organics (again, both manufactured by PBM). In 2007, Earth’s Best infant formula contained only organic lactose as the added carbohydrate. When Vermont Organics entered the market in 2008, it mirrored Earth’s Best and also contained only organic lactose. By 2011, both Earth’s Best and Vermont Organics contained reduced amounts of organic lactose, which were replaced with ‘organic glucose syrup solids.’
‘Organic glucose syrup solids’ is another name for ‘organic corn syrup solids,’ which are partially hydrolyzed corn starch molecules that are dried to a low moisture powder (hence the name ‘solids’). Corn syrup solids are moderately sweet (sweeter than maltodextrin).
| Brand | Company | Manufacturer | Carbohydrate in 2013 |
| 365 (Whole Foods) Organic | Whole Foods Markets, Inc. | PBM Nutritionals | Organic Glucose Syrup Solids, Organic Maltodextrin |
| Baby’s Only Organic® | Nature’s One | Nature’s One | Organic Brown Rice Syrup |
| Bright Beginnings® | PBM Nutritionals | PBM Nutritionals | Organic Glucose Syrup Solids, Organic Maltodextrin |
| Earth’s Best® | The Hain Celestial Group | PBM Nutritionals | Organic Lactose, Organic Glucose Syrup Solids |
| Parent’s Choice® Organic | Wal-Mart | PBM Nutritionals | Organic Glucose Syrup Solids, Organic Maltodextrin |
| Similac® Organic | Abbott Laboratories | Abbott Laboratories | Organic Maltodextrin, Organic Sugar |
| Vermont Organics® | PBM Nutritionals | PBM Nutritionals | Organic Lactose, Organic Glucose Syrup Solids |
Sugar
In terms of the added sweetener, Abbott Laboratories took a different route for its Similac Organic product: sugar.
Abbott’s decision came under fire in 2008, when The New York Times reported on the various concerns regarding the use of sugar in infant formula. The Times even commissioned its own professional taste test. Similac Organic was the sweetest, “with the sweetness of grape juice or Country Time lemonade,” according to Gail Civille, the director of Sensory Spectrum, which performed the tests.
The European Union banned sugar-sweetened infant formula in 2009, due to concerns with rising rates of childhood obesity and the possibility that overly sweet formula might lead to overfeeding. Sucrose (sugar) is allowed only in special formula for babies with allergies, and even then, it may not exceed 20% of the total carbohydrate content.
The New York Times quoted Dr. Benjamin Caballero, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and an expert in risk factors for childhood obesity: “I would be very concerned about this as a pediatrician. The issue is that sweet tastes tend to encourage consumption of excessive amounts.” Evidence shows that babies and children will always show a preference for the sweetest food available, he said, and they will eat more of it than they would of less-sweet food. “This is how breakfast cereal manufacturers compete,” he added.
Despite the concerns raised in The New York Times, Abbott Laboratories continues to use sugar as the added carbohydrate.
Brown Rice Syrup
Nature’s One chose organic brown rice syrup as the added carbohydrate for its toddler formula. In 2012, researchers at Dartmouth University tested various foods for levels of arsenic, and found organic toddler formula made with organic brown rice syrup contained up to six times the U.S. EPA safe drinking water limit for inorganic arsenic (there are no established safety standards for arsenic in food, including infant formula).
In response, Nature’s One developed an organic-compliant technology to filter and remove inorganic arsenic from its organic brown rice syrup to undetectable levels.
Consumers Union tested Baby’s Only Organic products to determine if the company had indeed removed arsenic from its products, and confirmed Nature’s One’s claims that its formula now contains undetectable arsenic levels
2. Palm Oil: Forms “Soaps” In The Baby’s Gut
Not all oil is created equal—it’s a basic fact of nutrition science, and one that is especially important for infants. Human milk is naturally high in certain types of fatty acids, which formula manufacturers try to mimic by adding certain types of oil. And to mirror the levels of palmitic acid, a fatty acid found in human milk, some manufacturers add palm oil.
However, palmitic acid from palm oil is structurally different from palmitic acid in human milk, and research has shown that human infants do not properly absorb it.
The unabsorbed palmitic acid remaining in the infant’s gut reacts with calcium, and causes the formation of “soaps” in the baby’s intestines. This important finding has been reported on more than one occasion in the journal Pediatrics, of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Research suggests that the formation of “soaps” in the baby’s intestinal tract negatively affects a baby’s development and health. Since palmitic acid from palm oil is not absorbed properly, it means overall fat absorption is lower in babies given formula with palm oil. Bone mass is significantly lower in babies given formula containing palm oil, perhaps because the calcium in the baby’s intestines turns into “soap” rather than reaching the baby’s growing bones. And the “soapiness” in the intestines also leads to hard stools.
According to researchers at Wayne State University, who performed a comprehensive review of published studies on the effects of palm oil in infant formula:
The use of palm oil in infant formulas to match the human milk content of palmitic acid has unintended physiological consequences. The avoidance of palm oil … in infant formulas can prevent this detrimental effect.
Despite these concerns, all organic formula products coming out of the PBM Nutritionals factory continue to contain palm oil. Earth’s Best did not contain palm oil when it first came on the market, but switched to palm oil in 2007.
| Brand | Company | Manufacturer | Contains Palm Oil? |
| 365 (Whole Foods) Organic | Whole Foods Markets, Inc. | PBM Nutritionals | Yes |
| Baby’s Only Organic® | Nature’s One | Nature’s One | No |
| Bright Beginnings® | PBM Nutritionals | PBM Nutritionals | Yes |
| Earth’s Best® | The Hain Celestial Group | PBM Nutritionals | Yes |
| Parent’s Choice® Organic | Wal-Mart | PBM Nutritionals | Yes |
| Similac® Organic | Abbott Laboratories | Abbott Laboratories | No |
| Vermont Organics® | PBM Nutritionals | PBM Nutritionals | Yes |
(As if parents needed another reason to avoid Enfamil, which offers no organic option, the first oil listed in Enfamil is palm oil).
3. Ingredients extracted with neurotoxic solvents from algae and soil fungus—not exactly the way mom makes it – C. Cohnii oil (DHA) and M. Alpina oil (ARA):
Six years ago, Cornucopia’s codirectors asked me to look into two ingredients, C. Cohnii oil and M. Alpina oil. They are marketed as “DHA and ARA,” and were starting to appear in organic infant formula without having gone through the proper approval process required by federal organic law.
The oils were manufactured by a biotechnology corporation in Maryland (the company has since been bought by the Dutch multinational corporation Royal DSM), using processing aids and synthetic ingredients that are not approved for use in organics.
Fresh out of a graduate program in nutrition, I could not help but dig deeper. I have to admit: I didn’t want to be involved in filing a legal complaint against ingredients that might be beneficial to infant development. I was concerned we might be depriving infants if we actually succeeded in having the USDA pull these ingredients out of organic infant formula (I clearly underestimated the power of the infant formula lobby that we’d be up against).
I soon discovered from the scientific literature that we wouldn’t be harming babies at all if they didn’t have these additives in their formula. If fact, we’d be protecting them from potential harm. Studies repeatedly failed to show benefits from adding these additives to formula, and the FDA had been receiving dozens of reports from parents and pediatricians who noticed some babies do not tolerate these ingredients. In 2008, we filed a legal complaint.
DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid, and ARA is an omega-6 fatty acid. Both are naturally found in human milk, and DHA is a component of brain and eye tissue. But the DHA and ARA added to most brands of infant formula are extracted from factory-produced C. Cohnii and M. Alpina—specific strains of algae and fungus that have never been part of the human diet, let alone the diet of infants.
Since we released our report and filed the legal complaint, it has become even clearer that these additives are not necessary and are primarily added as marketing tools. Three of the most prominent and respected independent scientists in the field of infant formula science stated in 2010 that the scientific evidence base for DHA and ARA’s addition to infant formula is “recognized by most investigators and Key Opinion Leaders in the field to be weak,” and that “this field of research has been driven to an extent by enthusiasm and vested interest.
Several comprehensive reviews of all published research have been conducted since we released our report, and all conclude that DHA and ARA “had no proven benefit regarding vision, cognition, or physical growth.” The World Health Organization’s Director of Nutrition for Health and Development even wrote a letter in 2011 to members of the European parliament, letting them know that “as to date no solid evidence exists to be able to say that adding DHA to infant formula will have important clinical benefits.”
When an Associated Press reporter asked the chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics committee on nutrition, Dr. Frank Greer, to comment on DHA and ARA in infant formula, he said: “The truth of the matter is, they’re not essential. Humans can synthesize these. Fatty acids are naturally present in the diet. And the whole issue becomes, do you make really make people smarter if you put DHA and ARA in everything? Or is this just all marketing hype? Personally, I lean toward the latter.”
When the C. Cohnii and M. Alpina oils first appeared in infant formula, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received dozens of reports from physicians and parents who noticed diarrhea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal distress in infants given formula with these oils—symptoms that disappeared when the infant was switched to the exact same formula without these novel additives.
The FDA reports that no post-market surveillance has taken place to assure the safety and tolerance of these additives—despite the FDA’s clear request to the formula manufacturers to conduct rigorous post-market monitoring to ensure their safety.
Another concern with these additives is how they are produced: the oil is extracted from the algae and fungus with the use of hexane, a neurotoxic petroleum-based solvent.
When the USDA received legal complaints against the unapproved use of C. Cohnii and M. Alpina oils, a Washington lobbyist with the powerful law firm of Covington and Burling convinced USDA officials to open a loophole in the organic standards, which would allow the formula manufacturers to add the unapproved ingredients without facing enforcement action.
While the USDA has since admitted that this was inappropriate, the agency has failed to take enforcement action and continues to bow to pressure from the infant formula industry. The National Organic Standards Board even explicitly stated that hexane-extracted algal oil and fungal oil should not be allowed in organic foods— but the USDA has failed to act on this very clear and legally binding vote, and hexane-extracted DHA and ARA remains in organic infant formula.
The only company that adheres to the legal requirement that DHA and ARA oil must not be extracted with the use of the neurotoxic solvent hexane is Nature’s One, which has chosen a water-extracted source of DHA and ARA (derived from egg yolks) for its Baby’s Only Organic formula.
4. Carrageenan: Dangerous Inflammation In Your Baby’s Gut
If you search for “carrageenan” in a medical database, thousands of search results will appear. Why so many? Because carrageenan is used in animal experiments to predictably cause inflammation, which allows pharmaceutical scientists to test the effectiveness of new anti-inflammatory drugs.
In a report Cornucopia released earlier this year, we carefully analyzed the scientific literature on food-grade carrageenan, and found that scientists have raised concern about carrageenan’s safety for decades. These concerns are based on their research linking the common food additive to gastrointestinal disease in laboratory animals, including colon tumors.
But the food industry, including the infant formula industry, has responded for decades by claiming that carrageenan is safe—based largely on industry-funded studies, with flawed methodologies. When a Chicago Tribune reporter asked both the FDA and the carrageenan industry lobby group earlier this year to share studies that were not funded by the industry and that could indicate carrageenan is safe, they could not come up with a single one.
Carrageenan appears in some organic infant formula, even though the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) voted to prohibit it. The Secretary of Agriculture’s decision to disregard the NOSB’s decision shows the lobbying power and influence of the infant formula industry.
Carrageenan is prohibited in infant formula—conventional and organic—in the European Union. The science linking carrageenan to intestinal inflammation is disturbing enough, but what adds insult to injury is that it is entirely unnecessary. Carrageenan contributes no nutritional value or flavor to formula, or other food, but is added to stabilize ready-to-feed formula. Adding carrageenan means parents or caregivers do not have to shake the product before feeding it to the baby. The alternative is to put a “shake well” label on the bottle.
Earth’s Best and Similac Organic ready-to-feed formula, the only liquid organic formula on the market, both contain carrageenan.
5. Synthetic Preservatives and Nutrients In Organics: A Mirror-Image Of The Synthetics In Conventional Formula
Federal law requires that a synthetic ingredient cannot be added to organic products unless it has been reviewed and approved by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). Two synthetic preservatives and numerous synthetic nutrients have recently been rejected by the NOSB. Final rulemaking is pending. For now, they remain in some organic infant formula products.
Some brands contain more of these unapproved synthetics than others.
Synthetic Preservatives
The NOSB rejected two synthetic preservatives: ascorbyl palmitate and beta-carotene. One of the primary reasons why formula manufacturers add these synthetic preservatives is to prevent the algal DHA and fungal ARA oils from going rancid. Since Baby’s Only Organic is the only formula that does not contain algal DHA oil and fungal ARA oil, it also is the only formula that does not contain these two synthetic preservatives.
Synthetic Nutrients
The National Organic Standards Board rejected the use of the following synthetic nutrients in dairy-based formula: lutein, lycopene, nucleotides, taurine, l-carnitine and l-methionine.
None of these nutrients are required in infant formula by the Food and Drug Administration, and all are prohibited in organic formula in the European Union. Some, like lutein and lycopene, are even prohibited in conventional infant formula in the European Union.
Lutein is produced from conventionally grown marigolds—likely treated with insecticides—and processed with the neurotoxic solvent hexane.
| Brand | Company | Manufacturer | Contains Lutein? |
| 365 (Whole Foods) Organic | Whole Foods Market | PBM Nutritionals | No |
| Baby’s Only Organic® | Nature’s One | Nature’s One | No |
| Bright Beginnings® | PBM Nutritionals | PBM Nutritionals | No |
| Earth’s Best® | The Hain Celestial Group | PBM Nutritionals | No |
| Parent’s Choice® Organic | Wal-Mart | PBM Nutritionals | No |
| Similac® Organic | Abbott Laboratories | Abbott Laboratories | Yes |
| Vermont Organics® | PBM Nutritionals | PBM Nutritionals | No |
Lycopene is most commonly found in tomatoes, but the version in organic infant formula is produced synthetically by the chemical manufacturer BASF. A three-stage process is used to produce synthetic lycopene, and involves the solvent dichloromethane and the solvent toluene. Toluene is a neurological toxin derived from benzene.
| Brand | Company | Manufacturer | Contains Lycopene? |
| 365 (Whole Foods) Organic | Whole Foods Market | PBM Nutritionals | No |
| Baby’s Only Organic® | Nature’s One | Nature’s One | No |
| Bright Beginnings® | PBM Nutritionals | PBM Nutritionals | No |
| Earth’s Best® | The Hain Celestial Group | PBM Nutritionals | No |
| Parent’s Choice® Organic | Wal-Mart | PBM Nutritionals | No |
| Similac® Organic | Abbott Laboratories | Abbott Laboratories | Yes |
| Vermont Organics® | PBM Nutritionals | PBM Nutritionals | No |
Nucleotides are produced from hydrolyzed yeast. The yeast undergoes multiple chemical changes in order to extract nucleotides, including heating to denature proteins, cell wall proteolysis, enzymatic hydrolysis, and dehydration. The infant formula industry shared the identity of two suppliers of nucleotides for use in infant formula: one is a Chinese biotech company (Dalian Zhen-Ao Bio-Tech) and the other supplier is Japanese.
| Brand | Company | Manufacturer | Contains Nucleotides? |
| 365 (Whole Foods) Organic | Whole Foods Market | PBM Nutritionals | Yes |
| Baby’s Only Organic® | Nature’s One | Nature’s One | Yes |
| Bright Beginnings® | PBM Nutritionals | PBM Nutritionals | Yes |
| Earth’s Best® | The Hain Celestial Group | PBM Nutritionals | Yes |
| Parent’s Choice® Organic | Wal-Mart | PBM Nutritionals | Yes |
| Similac® Organic | Abbott Laboratories | Abbott Laboratories | Yes |
| Vermont Organics® | PBM Nutritionals | PBM Nutritionals | Yes |
Taurine used in infant formula is produced synthetically; one processing method includes the use of sulfuric acid, a toxic and carcinogenic material, and another technique involves aziridine, listed as a hazardous air pollutant by the Environmental Protection Agency.
| Brand | Company | Manufacturer | Contains Taurine? |
| 365 (Whole Foods) Organic | Whole Foods Market | PBM Nutritionals | Yes |
| Baby’s Only Organic® | Nature’s One | Nature’s One | Yes |
| Bright Beginnings® | PBM Nutritionals | PBM Nutritionals | Yes |
| Earth’s Best® | The Hain Celestial Group | PBM Nutritionals | Yes |
| Parent’s Choice® Organic | Wal-Mart | PBM Nutritionals | Yes |
| Similac® Organic | Abbott Laboratories | Abbott Laboratories | Yes |
| Vermont Organics® | PBM Nutritionals | PBM Nutritionals | Yes |
The production of synthetic l-Carnitine involves epichlorhydrin, a list 2B material (possible human carcinogen) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. For this reason, it was rejected for use in organic foods by the National Organic Standards Board.
| Brand | Company | Manufacturer | Contains L-carnitine? |
| 365 (Whole Foods) Organic | Whole Foods Market | PBM Nutritionals | No |
| Baby’s Only Organic® | Nature’s One | Nature’s One | No |
| Bright Beginnings® | PBM Nutritionals | PBM Nutritionals | No |
| Earth’s Best® | The Hain Celestial Group | PBM Nutritionals | No |
| Parent’s Choice® Organic | Wal-Mart | PBM Nutritionals | No |
| Similac® Organic | Abbott Laboratories | Abbott Laboratories | Yes |
| Vermont Organics® | PBM Nutritionals | PBM Nutritionals | No |
L-Methionine is required in soy-based infant formula to meet basic amino acid requirements. Given its incompatibility with organic principles, synthetic l-methionine is prohibited in European organic foods. For that reason, organic soy-based infant formula does not exist in Europe—another reason to avoid soy-based formula.
Soy-based formula is so nutritionally dissimilar from human milk that in some countries, like New Zealand, it is only available by prescription. Even the American Academy of Pediatrics has stated that soy-based formula provides an alternative to dairy-based formula only in very rare cases.
The synthetic version of l-methionine used in infant formula is produced with materials including acrolein, an EPA Hazardous Air Pollutant, and hydrogen cyanide, described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a “systemic chemical asphyxiant” and “chemical warfare agent,” “used commercially for fumigation, electroplating, mining, chemical synthesis, and the production of synthetic fibers, plastics, dyes, and pesticides.”
| Brand | Company | Manufacturer | Contains L-methionine? |
| 365 (Whole Foods) Organic | Whole Foods Market | PBM Nutritionals | No |
| Baby’s Only Organic® | Nature’s One | Nature’s One | No |
| Bright Beginnings® | PBM Nutritionals | PBM Nutritionals | No |
| Earth’s Best® | The Hain Celestial Group | PBM Nutritionals | No |
| Parent’s Choice® Organic | Wal-Mart | PBM Nutritionals | No |
| Similac® Organic | Abbott Laboratories | Abbott Laboratories | Yes |
| Vermont Organics® | PBM Nutritionals | PBM Nutritionals | No |
What’s A Parent To Do?
Parents naturally assume that the organic label means all ingredients were carefully reviewed, deemed safe and compatible with organic principles (these are requirements in the organic law). It is utterly disturbing that the infant formula and baby food aisle would contain some of the most egregious violations of the organic standards.
Even after the National Organic Standards Board voted to prohibit hexane-extracted DHA and ARA, carrageenan, two synthetic preservatives and six synthetic nutrients in organic infant formula, these unapproved ingredients remain in organic products on store shelves (lobbying efforts by the formula industry are apparently paying off).
Some parents make their own infant formula (Weston A. Price foundation has a recipe). Human milk sharing is becoming more popular as well, with social media making it increasingly easy to connect donors and recipients (check out “Human Milk 4 Human Babies” and “Eats on Feets”).
Other parents import organic formula from Europe, such as the Holle brand from Germany, since it does not contain any of the unapproved synthetic preservatives and nutrients (Holle still does contain palm oil and maltodextrin). In Europe, as in the U.S., these ingredients are prohibited, and manufacturers there follow the law.
Don’t babies in the U.S. deserve the same? When will the USDA’s officials in charge of overseeing the organic label stop bowing to the lobbying pressure of the infant formula lobbyists, and enforce the organic law?
Please Take Action and Share This Post
Let the USDA know how you feel about their decision to continue allowing carrageenan in organic infant formula. You have until June 3rd to submit a comment through the government’s portal (for the required field “organization,” enter “citizen”). While you’re sharing your thoughts on carrageenan, you can also urge the USDA to remove the other unapproved synthetic ingredients from organic infant formula.
Writing this post was not easy. As a parent, I wish I could tell other parents who are in a bind and who need formula that the organic label signifies a safe option without any of the harmful ingredients found in conventional formula. As this post has shown, that’s not always the case.
That being said, let me stress again that organic infant formula remains a safer and a far superior alternative to conventional formula. Organic formula’s milk does not come from cows that were fed GMO feed, given antibiotics or injected with synthetic growth hormones. Organic formula’s sweeteners and oils cannot be GMO, treated with pesticides or extracted with neurotoxic solvents. So the choice between organic or conventional formula is a no-brainer.
Until we get unapproved ingredients out of organic infant formula, I hope this information will help parents make informed decisions when purchasing formula for their babies.
More about Charlotte Vallaeys:
Former of Director of Farm and Food Policy at the Cornucopia Institute (when this post was written) and now a Senior Analyst within the Consumer Safety and Sustainability Program at Consumers Union.
With a Master of Theological Studies degree from Harvard University and a Master of Science degree from Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Charlotte’s research explores the ethics of our food system. At The Cornucopia Institute, Charlotte has authored several reports on influential topics including questionable additives in infant formula, exposing improprieties in the organic egg industry and soy industry, and the meaning of different eco-labels. She is a nationally respected expert on the legal and regulatory oversight of the organic food industry.
Thank you for the eye opening article! I’m in the exact same boat as you are except I’ve reached 12 months of EBF. However, my supply is super low and I think I may have deprived my son, even though he seems to be doing fine and is growing well. I feel I need to top up with either formula or cow’s milk because my supply isn’t great at all. I feel I want to give him formula because it is more fortified, and I feel guilty that with my low supply he is missing out on something. After reading your article I’m not sure anymore whether I should still give him formula or just go straight to whole cow’s milk. What would you suggest?
What do you think of the brand Hipp? And how does it compare with Holle?
I know this is coming a few weeks late to your questions but I think I can answer them 🙂 First off, if your son is growing (gaining weight, lengthening, skull is growing) and his output is good (lots of wet and dirty diapers during the day) then you are most assuredly producing enough. It is normal for your supply to dip towards 12 months as your child begins to eat more solids. At a year human milk becomes more of a supplement to solids rather than the other way around as you’ve balanced it for the previous 6 months. However, many women have EBF past a year and done well or maybe their child was a late bloomer to solids. If your child is doing well with solids (gets a variety of foods and eats balanced meals and snacks as well as drinking water and juice) then I wouldn’t worry about your supply and go ahead and allow him to drink the organic whole milk (But keep breastfeeding! It’s so lovely, especially in the evening). Let nature take its course at this point. But if he is not eating solids well and is instead relying more on breast milk or formula for the majority of his nutrients then it would be best to continue with breast milk/formula instead of switching to whole milk.
Hello, and thank you very kindly for this blog that has certainly opened my eyes wider when it come to the word, “organic”! I have a 21-month year old little girl who has been on Baby’s Only Toddler Formula (Diary; without added DHA/ARA) from 12 months on since Feb 2013, and a 4-year old girl who had this same formula from June 2010-2011, so I am concerned either way when it comes to the questions of the use/content of Hexane and/or Organic Brown Rice Syrup.
With only about 2 more months to go on the suggested “toddler formula” (recommended by U.S. pediatricians for 12-24 month year olds), I’m suddenly wondering if I should just go straight to giving her Organic Whole Milk now, as opposed to when she turns 24-months. I also wonder if there are any public notices or recommendations on which brand or organic whole milk might be best, as well as whether or not it should be diluted at all for toddlers. I am also now concerned with any product containing ADDED DHA/ARA…should I question whether these types of supplements added to cows milk in liquid form (for example, HORIZON brand Organic Whole Milk with DHA Omega-3), might also be something to avoid. Any advice or feedback would be greatly appreciated! Many thanks in advance for taking the time out to reply to this inquiry;)!
Thank you SO much for this article. So very helpful to get the truth about these things and have it all laid out. I have been looking for a good organic formula sense my milk is drying up with no prospect for returning 🙁 thank you for your help!!
I’m a mum myself and I got curious why mums in America were buying Holle milk from our online store in Australia. I didn’t realised that the states baby formula was so limited in healthy good organic baby formula and understand why now people were often paying the same price in shipping as the milk to get it. It’s a shame you don’t have a Holle distributor there. Can only hope the awareness will make the formula giants get their act together properly and look after our children.
Doan – Little Organics
Very informative article and also very scary!! I will be looking for a formula and I am desperately trying to find a way to get Holle here in Canada!
Not sure if you managed to buy holle yet but I order mine through http://www.biologisch24.com. I live in the states and the online store is in germany. I do pay almost as much for shipping but it’s worth it to me.
How many bottles does one box make?
Danger Will Robinson HOLLE Organic Infant Formula 1
Skimmed milk** (Germany), whey powder* partly demineralised, vegetable oils* (palm oil*, rapeseed oil*, sunflower oil*), maltodextrin*, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, vitamin C, vitamin E, ferrous lactate, zinc sulphate, niacin, Calcium-D-pantothenate, copper sulphate, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, manganese sulphate, potassium iodate, folic acid, vitamin K, sodium selenate, vitamin D
*from organic farming
**from biodynamic farming (Demeter quality)
Even if canola(rapeseed oil) is labeled organic, major doubt remains about its value to the human body. Canola oil is high in glycosides, which means it inhibits enzyme function. Over the long term, this destroys the protective sheath (coating) surrounding nerves. Once that sheath is gone, nerve damage is being done. So, for the most part, canola oil makes your body more vulnerable to cancer. Now let’s back up a little here. Rape oil itself causes emphysema, respiratory distress, anemia, constipation and blindness in animals, including humans. So what’s the bottom line? Canola oil actually carries the mutated genes, no matter what kind of “processing” the food “product” is put through
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/042054_organic_canola_oil_oxymoron_rapeseed.html#ixzz3BQ8LLBan
I am stunned, shocked and disgusted by this information…is nothing safe?? Thankfully I am EBF my daughter, but I am terrified of my supply dwindling and having to give her formula! Why do they have to make things so difficult?? Stop putting chemicals in our food and it wont be this difficult to find something to eat that won’t eventually kill you! Thank you so much for this info, it is incredibly eye opening.
I was unable to breastfeed my first two children due to a breast reduction surgery in my younger years and unfortunately was unaware of all the horrible ingredients they put in the formula I gave my sons. WIth our third child, I tried again to breastfeed but also bought 30 boxes of Holle formula in case I was unable to get my milk to come in. Fortunately, I was able to produce enough milk, but now have 30 boxes of Holle Formula. If you know of anyone who is in need please leave a note on here and your email! Hope I can help another mother who just wants something safe for their child.
Hi, I’m interested! Plz mail me 🙂
dinadirections @ gmail.com
I’m interested
Hi Liz,
please contact me! i am very interested. thanks!
[email protected]
I’m interested
[email protected]
I’m interested please! [email protected]
I am interested! [email protected]
Interested. Please email me [email protected]
I’m sure you no longer have any formula left but could you tell me where you bought your Holle from? Was shipping as much as formula cost? Trying to figure out the best cost effective way to purchase this formula. Thank you.
[email protected]
I had to start feeding formula as my supply never came in properly and my son was not gaining weight at all. Trying to find a safe formula is proving difficult. If you still have some Holle left I would love some. LisaCarlini(at)gmail.com
This has been the most disturbing eye opening article, thanks so much for publishing and sharing this information! It is sad that the government and other organizations don’t do more for our infants and children to protect them. My granddaughter is having a horrible time with acid reflux (GERD) and gastrointestinal issues that is being treated with liquid Zantac (taste is awful),still the formula is not correct. The dr recently changed the formula to Nutramigen , with Enflora, LGG and what a nightmare the trial was. She continues to not only spit up but throw up sometimes with such force it terrifies me especially since she is just now 3months old. I started researching to find other options or organic options as I do strongly believe that if you do not have the best for your baby then problems will occur if they do not get corrected early. I do fill this is part of the ongoing problem with our infants today. If anyone can provide some answers or suggestions please do . I need all the help I can get, we have many disease and disorders that run in our family as well as , allergies. The mother is highly allergic to nuts! I do feel this is a critical issues as the baby could have allergies as well. The dr feels she has a milk allergy any suggestions would be appreciated.
I’m also interested. Please email me at [email protected]
My email address is [email protected] and I am definitely interested in the Holle formula if it is still available! Please contact me!
Hi. I’m interested in the Holle, please. I’m due in January. Thanks so much!!
HELLO I SAW YOUR POST AND WAS WONDERING IF YOU STILL HAVE THE FORMULA. THANKS
So interested! Please consider us! Thank you!
my email is [email protected] 🙂
I’m also interested, please!
I’m interested if you have any left! We’re potentially faced with switching to formula soon and I’m panicking as this was NOT what I wanted to be doing.
[email protected]
Hello. I am interested. I have 6 week old twin boys and I need to supplement. I really hope you have more. If you don’t thanks anyway.
Hi I am interested. please contact me at [email protected]. Thank you.
Liz,
I tried emailing the address you left in the comments but it got sent back to me. If you have anything left please let me know: [email protected]
Hi, I sent you an email but throught I’d leave a message here as well! My email is [email protected]
Thanks!
I am homeless and my 3-day-old newborn has just been taken by DCFS. My father complained to them about lies in an attempt to sabotage me because he is against me in every way because he supports all government things. The family is not from DCFS there is an external agency and I retain all legal rights. The father is going to rent an apartment but he only made that decision AFTER the baby was born. I am trying hard to pump enough but it lasts only two days. Baby’s Only formula still contains two toxic chemicals, and the “caretaker” is apparently not willing to buy it. One caretaker has already given my perfectly-intact baby SIMILAC and refused to pick up the 6 bottles of breastmilk from the hospital that I spent 4 more hours pumping before I left!! The second caretaker is willing to pick up the breastmilk but it is not enough. I must give her the most decent formula possible… I am very, very upset about this Similac where my previously perfect, fully-intact, undamaged baby has already been damaged due to this negligence at less then a week old. I would VERY much like your formula in order to keep my baby as safe as possible until we get the apartment rented… thank you for your consideration.
And Holle is better then Baby’s Only because Baby’s Only has two out of the most harmful ingredients that were banned, but Holle’s does not have any of those ingredients. Baby’s Only formula is still harmful to my baby.. please choose me to help with this formula. I notice that no one else has told their story or said anything other then “I am interested”. Well at least not the ones I’ve read so far. I thank you for your generous offer and I beg you to assist me unless there is another post with an explanation and you feel their situation is worse or more deserving. Thank you.
My e-mail is [email protected] , however, my e-mail is clogged up and you can reach me much faster and guarantee I get your message at facebook.com/yourfriendraven . Thank you.
Not sure if you managed to buy holle yet but I order mine through http://www.biologisch24.com. I live in the states and the online store is in germany. I do pay almost as much for shipping but it’s worth it to me.
I will buy the Holle formula! Pls mssg me back & I will provide email, etc. I live in Ohio & can pay with PayPal or how ever you prefer
Hello,
I am interested in buying the Holle formula, my sister tried desperately to breastfeed but couldn’t produce any milk, very hearbreaking for her. It’s her first child. It’s hard to get Holle formula here in Canada still searching for it.
Thank you and god bless
Yes please if you have any Holle left I would love to buy some for my friend who has a premie. If you have any left please email me at [email protected]. Thank you!
Me!! Please email me [email protected]
I am interested in purchasing Holle formula also- please email me at
[email protected]
I am very interested in the formula, would love to hear how to get it!
Hi Liz! I’m hoping you see this despite your reply being several months ago, I am currently researching the best alternatives for feeding my second child. I’m only a month along, but the feeding crisis we had with our first has me afraid to have our second. I also had a breast reduction several years ago. My milk came in very well, but just would not come out. My little one had horrible colic for months and could not tolerate ANY formula. She now has a severe milk allergy at three but is very healthy otherwise:). Anyway, my question to u is did your ducts ‘realign’ more with each child? I’ve heard with reductions you can sometimes nurse your second or third child bc your ducts tend to heal? I’m not sure I’m even going to try as it was more painful than I can describe;(. I had complete reconstructive surgery and truly feel my ducts will never heal so I’m thinking I need to bring either homemade or the best organic formula I can find…to the hospital…when I deliver. Thanks for listening and for any tips!
Which organic formula would be the best for my little lo please respond breastfed lo is almost 9 months suppy is less wakes up a lot during the night???? Organic formula only. Thank you
I chose Baby’s only, because they are constantly researching and striving for a better formula.
Wonderful article! Thank you! Just an FYI…the government portal is not accepting any more comments. It says it has been closed.
I breastfed my 2 daughters 35 years ago and at the time I thought for sure that, by the time they were mothers themselves, they would be living in a world where nursing your baby was 100% encouraged, accepted, and fully supported by everyone as a baby’s birthright. Sadly, this time has not yet arrived. Young mothers still don’t prepare during pregnancy by reading all they can on the many benefits of nursing, by seeing whose help they need to enlist to make it happen, and by standing up for their baby’s right to have the best possible start in a world that considers formula feeding as good as breast milk. It simply isn’t.
Having said all that, it’s good to see there are organic formula options for those mothers who don’t get all the support that ensures successful breastfeeding. Finding the best organic option is another story!
Exceptionally well done article!
Thank you for the information.I get sick to my stomach to think of these trusted companies putting harsh chemicals and toxins into the children we bring into this world. How do they sleep at night? Why do pediatricians provide samples and discourage healthy alternatives to mom’s milk???
My daughter was unable to breastfeed due to milk issues and no organic formula seemed to sit right with our newest baby. Digestive and elimination issues were rampant. Against the blessings of her doctor, she finally started to make her own baby formula using goat milk powder, organic coconut oil, organic maple syrup, organic molasses and a really good children’s multi vitamin. Our new baby began to flourish, is quite content and happy and no longer is experiencing digestive issues. There is always a way to help find what our babies need. After reading some of the organic formula labels, we knew there were ingredients in there none of us would eat. Why would we feed it to our new, sensitive baby? Great article. Thank you for sharing it!
What is your recipe for the homemade baby formula?
The website that gives the info for the goat milk baby formula is here. Shannon preferred to use Pure maple syrup to replace the other suggested sugars on the site. We feel it is better absorbed by sensitive babies.
http://www.mtcapra.com/discover-how-this-homemade-goat-milk-infant-formula-changed-my-daughters-life/
I think this is a very informative article. However, it makes me sick that you had to pad the beginning of your article with your justification for not breastfeeding because of pro-breastfeeding pressure. Why can’t we just have an article about finding good organic formula? I was depressed for months because of the intense guilt I felt for being unable to provide enough breast milk for my twins, despite doing absolutely everything imaginable recommended by my lactation consultant, OB, and many online resources. It is outrageous that false claims abound in pro-breastfeeding circles, such as anyone can produce enough breast milk for their baby if they try hard enough, and the apparent believe that your baby will be disadvantaged, unhealthy, and not as intelligent when given formula. I have come across many other mothers since then who had the same problem as I did, and I can’t stand that we are made to feel like horrible mothers who didn’t “try hard enough” because we had to supplement with formula. It’s completely unjust and deplorable. Babies drinking formula have grown to become FINE, INTELLIGENT, HEALTHY individuals. We have enough to worry about raising our kids, we don’t need to be looked down upon for our choices.
I agree with you twinmama! Thanks for saying that.
I had similar issues with breastfeeding, TwinMama, and it cuts like a knife when I insist on feeding my toddler organic food but then someone smirks that I didn’t even breastfeed him. Oh, how I wish that my milk hadn’t taken 11 days to trickle in. Oh, how I wish that my inability to feed him resulted in post part. depression and sleep deprivation. Now that I am pregnant with my second child, the most valuable lesson I learned from my first was to implement formula sooner rather than waiting until things got to be such a mess and my husband was secretly feeding my toddler formula so he and I could stop crying. This article has been very informative. All we can do is either chose the best formula option on the US market or import from amazon.co.uk the Holle brand. Fortunately for me, my in laws live in England and my mother in law is coming this Christmas (a couple weeks after baby is due). So I will be having her bring some of this Holle formula in her case.
When are they going to start making organic versions for babies with allergies? This is all good information but it isn’t much use to those of us unable to breastfeed and who’s babies have allergies and intollerances that cannot be dealt with even through homemade formulas. There are MANY babies who need special formulas and there are no organic options available to us that I am aware of.
Very informative, however, I am still not clear on which Organic formula is preferred as I have not breast fed and it sounds like Holle brand from Germany is recommended for breast fed babies.
Come on…can’t you just tell us a GOOD, safe, best formula choice that’s made in the USA & affordable??? There are mother’s that for whatever reasons are or have to feed formula…they NEED to have an affordable choice here in the USA. So out of the USA brands (I know none are great!) BUT which one is best??? Thank you
Why don’t you actually read the post you are commenting on? It will tell you!!
Also there ARE NO “good brands,” either from American or from outside. Or if by some miracle there are, this poster has not found it.
Thank-you
Does anyone out their know of any site who CAN tell us which is the BEST choice of affordable USA formula that mothers can feed their bottle fed babies?
…..you still haven’t read the post. This post tells you that the best brand is Babys Only. Do NOT use any soy formula as soy is one of the worst things you can put in your body. Babys Only may severely constipate if your baby is young. If it does, you can solve this problem by:
-using 1 oz. of prune juice per day in the bottle.
-up to one ounce of pear juice per day, if needed.
-use the DHA type or DHA supplements
-try the lactose-free type (if you think lactose may be the problem)
Or
-add infant probiotics.
The probiotics should be added to the formula anyway, because that is the main reason breastmilk is so much better then any formula.
Babys Only is $12 per can (at Fruitful Yield). It is cheaper then commercial formula. An even better option is to make your own formula. One recipe, from Weston A. Price, is linked in this post which you commented on but did not read. Another recipe can be seen at http://www.inboxdollars.com/search/go/61444327/11593953/2/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mtcapra.com%2Fdiscover-how-this-homemade-goat-milk-infant-formula-changed-my-daughters-life%2F .
What makes the Holle brand formula superior to the ones produced in the US? From the ingredients I see that they still use Maltodextrin and Palm oil like many of the American brands.
IT HAS NO BANNED OR CERTIFIED-UNSAFE CHEMICALS. PLEASE READ THE POST BEFORE REPLYING! Although it does have several other chemicals, just like all of them do, it does not have any of the “worst” chemicals listed here.
Raven, I think you are being a bit harsh with some of your replies given you are not the author. This article is an informational piece and does not recommend one brand above the other; only to make the consumer more aware of the current choices in infant formula.
Holle is a great formula, though not sold in the U.S. Alternatively, there is the an option of homemade formula. This is not stated as superior, but as a possible “best choice.” The questions you are responding to are inquires about U.S. available organic manufactured formulas. Referring back to the article will not tell you any one specific recommendation.
IT. WILL. TELL YOU. “ONE”. “SPECIFIC”. “RECOMMENDATION”. (regarding organic, American, pre-made formulas) IF YOU ACTUALLY READ THE ARTICLE. ARE YOU RETARDED?
Raven – who made you the “post only if you can be absolved on not having read everything already police”. Geez chill. We’re all on the same team. And many of us are exhausted, frustrated, OVER TIRED parents by the time we get to the point of searching online for answers. So next time you decide to prosecute for not having read and, more importantly “absorbed” all the copious amounts of info we’re digesting, make sure you’ve passed the “i can walk on water test”. Would you prefer the alternative? no one bother to care? BACK.OFF
Thanks for the very useful post examining the ingredients in each organic formula!
After hours of searching, we decided on the Baby’s Only formula, ordering a couple tins. We went to our pediatrician and he said that in fact Baby’s Only is in fact actually just for Toddler’s and not newborns, because it has a higher protein content than an infant’s kidneys can process (I did the math, it has about 10% more than most), which is why, as he says, the FDA required that it be labeled as toddler formula. Our Dr. also warned that they actually had a few problems with infants fed this formula in his office and that we should switch to another organic brand suited for infants.
Hope that helps parents out!
The protein content is lower then FDA requirements for infant formula (i.e. it is within the range legally). The problem he is referring to is constipation. Constipation can be solved by some methods, including
-add 1 oz. of prune juice per day (some mothers’ doctors have recommended or approved this)
-add up to 1 oz. of pear juice per day (I found one mother who tried this. She only needed 1 tsp., but her doctor said up to 1 oz. per day was allowable.)
-add DHA.
-add probiotics (this seems to be the most natural option)
-try lactose-free. One mother uses prune juice, but does not need it when her store has the lactose-free Babys Only formula available. Sometimes the lactose-free is out of stock, and at those times she uses prune juice.
Food Babe, Can’t you PLEASE suggest a couple formula’s that could be feed to a 3 month old baby??????? SUGGESTIONS PLEASE?????????????
Can a 3 month old infant safely have the “Baby’s Only organic formula” that is labeled “Toddler”? I don’t see one that they make that says infant…..? Thank you
Scott B.,
You said the Dr. said there had been some problems feeding “Baby’s Only”?….what did you then choose to feed your infant????
please help i would appreciate it if you could provide Holle Formula my email is [email protected]
thank you liz
Not sure if you managed to buy holle yet but I order mine through http://www.biologisch24.com. I live in the states and the online store is in germany. I do pay almost as much for shipping but it’s worth it to me.
It appears as though almost everyone who has commented has their minds made up that you should consider yourself a horrible person if you didn’t breastfeed and/or you gave your baby non-organic formula.
This is ridiculous. Please stop beating yourselves up and definitely think twice before taking this blog’s advice. Baby formula is expensive as it is, and feeling pressured by this “expert” to spend even more based on dubious claims that are not backed up by actual science is borderline criminal.
Breastfeeding sucks. It’s not for everyone. The best formula is one your baby will actually eat, and that won’t cause painful digestive issues. If you’ve done that, you are a great parent. Period.
Hi everyone,
I will have Holle Stage 1, 2, 3, 4 and goat milk available hopefully in the next 2 weeks, its on order. These are my prices
Stage 1 ( birth to 6 months) 14 ounces: $26.00
Stage 2 (6 months-3 years) 21 ounces: $30.00
Stage 3 (10 months- 3 years) 21 ounces: $30.00
Stage 4 (12 months to 3 years) 21 ounces: $30.00
Goat Milk Powder (12 months to 3 years) 14 ounces: $33.00
Shipping is $5.95 for a padded envelope or if you order more I can give you a quote for whats cheapest 🙂 . I will be providing feeding instructions in english! We would accept payment thru paypal. I am another parent like all of you trying to get the word out about Holle and doing my best to spread it around so we can readily buy it hear in the USA. Plese shoot me a email at [email protected] if you would like to get on the list for this order. thanks!!
Eye-opening article, thanks
Holle contains maltodextrin – so why is it so much better?
Hi everyone. I know that Jesus pointed myself (and everyone here) to this article to make an informed decision about baby formula. For my newborn nephew, I believe that Baby’s Only by Nature One is the best one for him. My sister tries to breast feed him fully, but he doesn’t get enough milk/get full. So I bought Baby’s Only because it doesn’t contain maltodextrin, and according to Cornucopia it’s the only baby formula that doesn’t have harmful APA/DPA oils, nor does it contain palm oil like the other formulas according to the above article. I’m new to being “food conscious” and appreciate the straight forwardness of this article. It points to breastfeeding as the best option in a way that a GMO food article would point to organic food as being the best choice. The author writes from personal experience.
I also feel compelled to respond to TwinMama’s comment on 9/5….it’s been my observation that most (American) mothers don’t bother breastfeeding because they think that formula is just as good as breast milk as well as other factors… you (and many mothers) have actually tried breastfeeding your babies and it hasn’t worked out, so of course you shouldn’t feel guilty because you can’t or choose not to.
Yet the fact remains is that food corporations use horrible chemicals to make more profits, and it doesn’t seem to phase them (or any groups/departments supposedly making them accountable) that this poorly made food is being digested by babies or adults. GMO and processed food DOES cause problems, and it’s only by the grace of God that they don’t cause more problems in people. I’m sorry that you and other women have been unduly pressured by breast-feeding advocates and made to feel like an unfit mothers because that shouldn’t be happening. What needs to happen is overall advocacy for women and baby’s health so that better baby formula is made. As long as we – and I do include myself/my family – accept status-quot, nothing is going to change.
Ooops… your autocorrect changed “Google” to “Jesus”.
Unfortunately I may have to supplement with formula due to low weight gain but my son has a lot of sensitivities such a soy and dairy protiens. Not sure what to do! Has anyone heard of peaceful planet toddler formula? Any thoughts? ?
Hi liz,
I’m interested in the Holle formula if you have any! [email protected]
I found another brand of formula that doesn’t contain any SOy. It is called Materna and it is made in Israel. Israel has a firm stance against soy/soy proteins with infants and demands a Doctor’s note in order to use a soy based formula. They have a large range of products. Here is the info: http://www.maabarot-export.co.il/baby/milk/stage1-2.html
Food Babe – did you not see this?????? I fed my baby Baby’s Only after reading your article and then my husband showed me this. I have no idea what formula to feed my baby (I am supplementing my 9 month old while still breastfeeding).
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Diet/arsenic-organics-rice/story?id=15642428
Please help!
Thank you.
Lauren
Get the Holle Formula – you will not regret it. I will tell you we researched everything and tried many… this formula hands down is the best. See previous posts for where to get it. Paying for shipping is worth every cent.
http://consumerreports.org/cro/arsenicinfood.htm
Look at this article at the end. Baby’s only chnaged the rice supplier and implemented a new filtration system. Latest results indicated no detectable traces of arsenic. If you ar buying this formula, make sure you look on the expiration date to make sure it is from the new batch (new process). The article has more details
I read up on Hipp organic (it comes from the UK) and it seems to have great reviews so far. Has anyone tried it? If so, how did you and your baby like it?
We use HIPP organic from the UK and absolutely love it! Great investment in your baby’s health. You can order from britstore.com to ship the the US
What about HIPP organic? Looks like it’s easier to get in the USA.. any recommendations on which one is better? thanks
This is such a helpful post, and I am truly grateful for the information, which helped me choose an organic formula to supplement my breastfeeding. I considered getting the Holle brand shipped from Europe, but it contains Palm Oil, so I chose against that brand. I also considered Wholefoods 365 brand, but it contains Palm Oil as well. Ultimately, I chose Babys Only because it seems to be the most organic of all the brands available. (They do include taurine, the only thing on the lists above.) However, I wish you would update the information you have on this brand – I just got off the phone with a representative there and their food scientist confirmed that they do not contain nucleotides, as listed above. Please update your chart.
Other than inquiring about ingredients, my other concern was about Babys Only listed as a toddler formula. I wondered “why wouldn’t a company want to profit from the infant market if they could??” It just seemed weird to me. So I asked… The rep told me that since they had originally marketed as a toddler formula, the FDA would not allow them to ‘give feeding advice’ for infants. Now they are considering going through a rebranding process, but trying to decide if it’s worth the time and expense to do so and then have to openly compete against the ‘big boys’ like Enfamil and Similac. So, I compared the nutrient label of Babys Only Toddler Formula against Wholefoods 365 brand Infant Formula and feel confident that the nutrient levels are similar and that Babys Only actually does have the correct levels of nutrients for my 6 month old. (The rep also encouraged me to have my pediatrician or a dietician compare the labels and give me their professional advice.)
I also asked about and learned that Babys Only does not contain carrageenan. I also asked about sucrose and learned it does not have any sucrose. A July 13 2013 NBC Chicago article states “While the Food and Drug administration does regulate many aspects of formula, it does not require makers to list sugar amounts. The agency is also silent when it comes to how much sugar is allowed.”
Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/investigations/target-5-sugar-baby-formula-139339308.html#ixzz2iT5wD5OW”
I find it insane that the FDA doesn’t require brands to list the amount of sugar.
In the end, I think Babys Only is the most organic brand and is both safe and healthy for my 6 month old infant. I hope my additional research helps other parents on this site trying to find the best product for their baby!
Thanks, Angela, for your extra research! This really helps me in my search 🙂
Thanks for sharing! I have been looking at that formula but am nervous about the many who say its constipating. My 5 week old already has gas issues so a little concerned. I was looking into Hipp formula from the UK. Have you heard about that one? Curious as your thoughts on it. Thanks 🙂
This is the best scientific information i could find around baby formulas. Thank you so much for making this information available. We have the right to make an informed decision about what to feed our babies. I have decided to go ahead wih Baby’s Only or Holle. Baby’s only is looking like the best option due to not containing Palm Oil.
I researched (and clearly continue to research) formulas extensively. As background, I’m a mom of two: 2.5 years and 9 months. When I didn’t produce enough milk the first time, and that was early on, I needed to supplement and Baby’s Only was my choice. But as it is less known and lacks the brand awareness segment leaders do, I took my can to my pediatrician who reviewed the formula and deemed it fine for my first, who has thrived. He started early, and we’ve not had any related issues – kidney or other. With better supply until recently, I exclusively breastfed and now exclusively provide formula to my infant. Again, Baby’s Only. No issues. Easy transition. Per my research, my preferred formula. I also supplement probiotic (also by Nature’s One, the Baby’s Only manufacturer).
I worked through lots of issues. Breastfeeding isn’t as easy as many like to state it is. If you have a thyroid condition, as I do, your levels need close management or it will adversely affect supply. It can be a wonderful experience, a painful one to start and a taxing one for a working mom. Don’t beat anyone or yourself up if you don’t breastfeed, regardless of the reason. And if you do, cheers to you. You know that bond is intense and a wonderful experience.
If you use formula, do what makes sense for you and your child. Who knows about anything these days. Enjoy being a mom and let’s not over rotate. Great research above. Some decisions are economic or convenience based. You’ll find a solution that works best for you both.
Hi, I need HOLLE formula stage 3. Just 1 or 2 packs, if you happen to have please e_mail me at [email protected]. Thank you!
It is actually stage 2 that i need…
I have Holle Stage 1 and Hipp Organic First Infant Milk available for sale. Email me at [email protected] if interested.
I breastfed for 4 months. I got a serious candida overgrowth, hormonal imbalances, and stress/depression. I was extremely sick for 8 months, and STILL recovering. My lo is 22 months now. So, I BF for 4 months, went to organic soy formula for 4 months, then miraculously, my hubby found a GREAT homemade formula online, when she was 8 months…still using it!!! She LOVES it! She had a HARD time taking in that 365 organic formula… i cried every day, cause I knew I was giivng her crap. Once we switched to homemade, she instantly LOVED it, thrived better, and my tears stopped flowing. =) Email me if you would like the formula. Its almond-milk based. [email protected]
Could u email me that recipe? ? [email protected]
thanks!
Hi Liz very interested
[email protected]
Just wanted to say Thank You for such informative research!
I have someone in the states that can get the Holle formula and he is VERY nice and quick (takes about two weeks to get after the order). His email address is:
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Aaaand you didn’t list it.
I did, however it got removed somehow??
I did, but it got removed somehow
Pretty great post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to mention that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing in your feed and I am hoping you write again soon!
I breast fed my daughter up until 6 months old because my milk supply was slowing down. Well, I never had a large supply to begin with. I did a lot of research on Baby Formula and came to the conclusion that “Baby’s Only” is by far the best choice. I called the company and they said, the reason it says, “Toddler Formula” is because they recommend breast feeding for the first 2 years of life, but assured me that it was completely safe for my daughter. They have stay within strict guidelines of Formula nutrients. They never mentioned anything about it having too much protein. Our daughter was on Baby’s Only Dairy with DHA/ARA until 1 year, and her transition from breast milk to formula was great. I like how “Baby’s Only” contains real Vanilla as a sweetener. The best place to buy” Baby’s Only” is Diapers.com. They literally ship the next day with On Trac shipping, or directly from Nature’s One.com. They take a bit longer, more expensive, but not by much. Of course we all know breast milk is best but not all of us are lucky to produce enough milk. My sister- in- law produced as much milk as a cow and was forced to donate it. Lucky her. LOL! We are not all lucky like that. I personally wouldn’t want to buy someone else’s breast milk because we don’t know if they had health issues or what they actually ate in their diet. But if it works for some people that’s their right. I forgot to mention that “Earth’s Best” contains Hexane, that is why I chose not to go with that company. I hope this helps and good luck to you all! 😉
Our source can supply BONNY LIGHT CRUDE OIL/AGO,MAZUT,D2,BITUMEN, RUSSIAN CRUDE OIL,RUSSIAN UREA,COLTAN,COPPER ORE,PALM OIL and other petroleum related products,We can do TTO,FOB,CIF so if you are interested to buy any of the said products, pls do not hesitate to revert back to us asap.
Awaiting your urgent response , pls bear in mind that no upfront payment is requested from the buyer.
Upon hearing from you i will furnish our procedure for us to plan ahead.
Best regards
Mr Ferguson
+225 44 73 51 74
Please let me know if your products are still available for sale?
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Thanks for the article! I’m having a baby in December and wanted to purchase some formula just in case I am unable to breastfeed. I attempted to purchase the Holle formula online but the German website says they are unable to ship to the USA. Anyone else know where to purchase it online?
Amazon
Hi. After reading this article I ordered Holle 1 for my baby as a supplement to my breast milk and my baby looooved it! Thank you for the article and for the information.
I also have 1 unopened box of Holle 1 i would like to sell. My baby outgrew it…Please email me [email protected]
Thank you so much for this research!
I have all 3 stages of Holle available. Email me at [email protected] if interested.