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Is organic baby formula worth it?

No matter if you feed your baby formula by preference or because of a need it is important to provide them the best quality you can. For some parents, that could mean making the switch to organic. Every infant formula is closely examined by the Food and Drug Administration to ensure that they comply with certain nutritional guidelines, however organic baby formulas must conform to specific federal guidelines for the certification stamp.

Similar to organic produce or dairy items, the organic products is required to be made with organically certified components and processing aids. These formulas are also non-GMO and must comply in accordance with the list that is published by the United States of Prohibited and Allowed Substances. This means that certain preservatives, flavors, and other ingredients that are found in conventional formulas are absent from organic formulas.

“With ever-growing concerns regarding our food sources as well as the pesticides and chemicals that our food products 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 and possibly harmful chemicals in manufacturing formulation,” claims nutrition expert Crystal Karges. It’s also an ideal choice for infants who have a weak immune system or endocrine disorders, as it could help to reduce the risk of the health risks associated with eating formulas that contain some pesticides.

Holle Organic Formula: What’s it made of?

We’re aware of the ingredients that aren’t in organic formulas in accordance with federal guidelines however, what exactly are the ingredients? It can differ widely among brands, and experts suggest reviewing the labels attentively to ensure you’re familiar in the products you purchase.

The majority of organic products have the base of cow’s milk, however some are made from goat’s milk or soy. They could contain additional ingredients such as DHA, ARA, prebiotics and probiotics or 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 of fat in several natural products… Although it’s not necessarily bad to consume theseproducts, I prefer formulas that contain higher quality fats and carbs like sunflower/safflower oil.

“The objective is to select an ingredient that has an nutritional profile that is as similar like breast milk is possible,” she adds. “There’s absolutely no solids from corn syrup present in milk from breasts!”

It’s important to remember that”organic” doesn’t always mean natural. A childbirth expert Genevieve Howland notes that the FDA demands that all formulas contain certain preservatives and nutrients that are only obtainable by synthesis, like Nucleotides, lycopene and lutein and taurine. L-Carnitine is also one of them. While they are accepted by the U.S., many of these ingredients are prohibited within the European Union this is why organic sticklers tend to choose European formulations.

“There’s another question you can consider when evaluating formulas and that is: what kinds of ingredients are present used in formula? Howland states. “Not every recipe, organic or not–has the same proportion of fat, protein, and carbohydrates.”
Does organic baby formula really make it?

As with organic food and other items organic formulations come with a price higher than the standard formulas it’s your decision what’s the worth of this cost.

“I believe that when it is organic formula it’s crucial to take into consideration prolonged exposure to something over the course of time” Karges says. “So when your child is getting formula frequently and price is a concern making a choice to use a standard formula is a good alternative. For a baby who is using formula as their primary nutritional source, it could be worthwhile to consider buying organic products to reduce the risk of exposure to chemicals and pesticides over the course of time.”

Some parents have decided to circumvent the expense issue by creating their own baby formula from scratch at home. This practice is not considered safe according to The American Academy of Pediatrics.

“If the price of organic formula isn’t ideal to your household, don’t allow it to affect the way you feed your child,” Howland says. “Never reduce the amount of food you feed your baby to make use of organic formula. Healthy babies are well-fed baby.”

Making the right choice between the organic brands of baby formula

There are more organic formula available today than ever before and manufacturers are constantly revising their ingredient lists to come up with the most effective formula for your child.

“I am a fan of encouraging parents to select an organic formula that is suited to their baby’s individual needs, as every formula may differ slightly depending on the ingredient,” Karges says.