No matter if you feed your baby formula of your own preference or because of a need or not, you should give them the best quality you can. For certain parents, this means making the switch to organic. Every infant formula is closely scrutinized by the Food and Drug Administration to ensure they meet certain nutritional guidelines, however organic baby formulas must conform to specific federal guidelines for the certification stamp.
Like organic produce and dairy items, the organic products must be made using organically certified components and processing aids. They are also free of GMOs and must comply to the national list of Prohibited and Allowed Substances. This means that certain preservatives, flavors, as well as other additives included in conventional formulas are absent from Holle Organic Formula.
“With growing concerns over our food sources as well as the possible pesticides and chemicals which our food items could come in contact with, going organic products is an ideal choice for parents looking to reduce the risk of their children being exposed to pesticide residues as well as potentially harmful chemicals in manufacturing the formula” claims nutrition expert Crystal Karges. She also says it’s an ideal choice for infants with compromised immune systems or endocrine issues, since it may help in reducing the health risks associated with eating formulas that contain some pesticides.
Organic baby formula: What’s it made of?
We’re aware of the ingredients that aren’t in organic products as per federal guidelines however, what exactly is it? This can differ greatly between brands, and experts suggest studying the labels carefully to ensure that you are comfortable in the products you purchase.
The majority of organic products have an ingredient made from cow’s milk however some are made from goat’s or soy milk. They could contain ingredients like DHA, ARA, prebiotics or probiotics, as well as Whey protein, which helps to more closely mimic breastmilk.
Dietician Natalie Gillett argues that the organic ingredients are not necessarily better than those found the traditional formula.
“For example, many organic formula brands use glucose and corn syrup solids as their source of carbohydrates–versus lactose, which is the carb source in breast milk,” she says. “Also Palm oil, which is controversially used as a source for fat in numerous Organic products… Although it’s not necessarily bad to consume them, I prefer formulas that contain higher quality fats and carbohydrates like sunflower/safflower oils, respectively.
“The aim is to pick the formula that has an nutrient profile that is as close like breast milk is possible,” she adds. “There’s absolutely no solids from corn syrup present in milk from breasts!”
It’s also important to understand that organic doesn’t mean natural. A childbirth teacher Genevieve Howland notes that the FDA demands that all formulas include certain preservatives and nutrients which can only be made in a laboratory, including Nucleotides, lycopene and lutein as well as taurine and L-Carnitine. While they are accepted by the U.S., many of these ingredients are not allowed within the European Union and that’s the reason why some organic lovers choose European formulations.
“There’s another question you can be asking when you’re evaluating formula and that is: what kind of ingredients are included within the formulation? Howland declares. “Not every recipe, organic or otherwise, has the same proportion of fat, protein, and carbohydrates.”
Organic baby formula is worth it?
Similar to organic foods and other items organic formulations come with a price higher than the standard formulas It’s your choice to decide what’s the worth of this cost.
“I think that when it concerns organic formulas it’s crucial to take into consideration the possibility of exposure to something for a long the course of time” Karges says. “So If your baby receives formula on a regular basis and the cost is an issue making a choice to use a standard formula is the best choice. For a baby who is using formula as their primary nutritional source, it could be worthwhile to consider buying organic products to reduce the exposure to chemicals as well as pesticides over the course of time.”
Some parents have decided to circumvent the expense by creating their own baby formula from scratch at home. This method is deemed to be unsafe and unfit for purpose by experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
“If the price of organic formula isn’t ideal in your home, don’t let it affect how you feed your child,” Howland says. “Never reduce your feedings to make use of organic formula. The baby that is healthy will be a well-fed baby.”
The choice of the organic brands of baby formula
There are more organic baby formula available today than ever before and manufacturers are constantly improving their ingredient lists to come up with the most effective formula for your baby.
“I am a fan of encouraging parents to select an organic formula that will meet their child’s specific requirements, since all formulas may differ slightly depending on the components,” Karges says.