How To Know If Organic Baby Formula Is Truly Organic?

How To Know If Organic Baby Formula Is Truly Organic?

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As a new parent, it can be difficult to get everything right from the get-go. Whether you’re trying to decide the best times for feeding, the correct way to bathe your baby or simply how to change a nappy, they are all very important decisions. However, deciding how you’re going to feed your baby is possibly one of the biggest decisions that parents must make. With so many products on the market and so much information available on the internet, it can all seem very overwhelming. Although it’s great to have so many brands and products widely available, it takes time to figure out what truly makes for a high-quality product. Of course, not all parents decide to go down the formula route and they opt for breast-feeding instead. Whatever route you choose, it’s best to be informed about all available options.

What is “organic” baby formula?

Many parents opt for organic baby formula. But what does “organic baby formula” really mean and what makes it organic? The ingredients in each brand of organic baby formula and the quality of those ingredients can vary. Like everything, doing a little research before making a purchase will help you make the best possible decision. “Organic” is a term we hear a lot of these days, but not always with much understanding of its significance. To give you a better understanding, organic formula is baby formula that is free from preservatives, growth hormones, pesticide residue, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), synthetic chemicals and potentially toxic substances.

The exact EU regulations include: No detectable levels of pesticide residues (no more than 0.01 mg per kg) Addition of DHA for normal brain development and eyesight (as of 2020) Strict compositional requirements and amounts for all ingredients, including obligations for energy level, protein content, and protein processing List of allowed sources of carbohydrates (no corn syrup or other refined sugar) Strict labeling rules (for example, it forbids the use of nutrition and health claims and must be designed so as to not discourage breastfeeding) Nutritional declaration (e.g. must include the amount of each mineral substance and of each vitamin)

How to know if it’s organic?

For baby formula to be classified as “organic” in accordance with EU organic requirements, at least 95% of the ingredients must be organic. Brands will often try to confuse shoppers with misleading advertisements. For example, some brands may claim that their formula is “made with organic ingredients”, however this does not necessarily mean it can be classified as an organic formula as less than 95% of the ingredients may not be organic. Therefore, it’s important to take note of the wording on all baby formulations.

What to look for in an organic formula?

It’s important to note that while organic formula is often thought to be superior to non-organic formulas, due to the fact they are free from hormones, chemical fertilizers and pesticide residue, it does not mean that 100% of the products are organic ingredients. Therefore, it’s important to identify the ingredients of each baby formula product beyond the organic label. Some things that you should look for, whether lactose is the main carbohydrate source as is in breast milk, if there’s organic vegetable oils to create a fatty acid profile like that of breast milk, no synthetic preservatives and no highly processes sweeteners. These are just some of the things you should take note of in terms of nutritional information.

Popular organic formulations on the market

There are plenty of good quality organic baby formula brands on the market. One brand that is popular among buyers is Loulouka 2 Follow On Milk, an organic baby formula made with ingredients sourced from Switzerland under European Union certified organic standards, and their formula is produced there as well. The raw materials are processed in the country where they are farmed, remaining in the highest possible quality without being exposed to diverse transport conditions. This baby formula contains dairy from Swiss organic agriculture, with the Swiss dairy standard being notably one of the best in the world. This is primarily due to the strict regulations that Switzerland has for farming and animal welfare.

Still unsure of which formula to try?

We recommend browsing through our large range of baby formulas on our website in order to identify which formula, if any, are most suitable for your baby. Watch out for our regular newsletters via email where we discuss common queries related to baby feeding and more!