Best organic baby food uk
Four European Organic Baby Food Brands
Industry Insights · 11min read
The European baby food market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% until 2025 to reach a total of 9.2 billion Euros. The largest market shares are currently held by Germany, Russia, and the United Kingdom. While this number in itself does not represent staggering growth expectancies for the upcoming years, industry experts are seeing a significant increase in the demand for sustainable baby foods. As adult consumers become more aware of the personal health benefits and environmental benefits of consuming natural and organic foods, it is no surprise that the demand for products in these categories in the baby food industry mirrors these trends. An increasing number of parents are conscious of the nutritional content in their baby food and concerned by the prospect of exposing their babies’ growing bodies and minds to chemicals or pesticides. Thus we took the opportunity to highlight four exciting brands that are bringing sustainable and organic baby foods to shelves across Europe.
HiPP is an internationally established, family-owned business currently in its fourth generation. For over 60 years, the Hipp family has been committed to organic and sustainable farming practices which include free-roaming livestock alongside pesticide-free, specially selected fruits and vegetables. Built on the belief that ‘green is good’, the HiPP brand proves its commitment to the environment time and time again by consistently exceeding EU organic standards. With 260+ self-imposed quality controls in place, parents can feel confident in the safety, nutritional value, and flavours in every spoonful of HiPP. Artificial preservatives, sweeteners, or colourants will never find their way into these natural and wholesome meals. Today, HiPP’s established baby and toddler food portfolio encompasses around 50 products, categorised by age (4 months to 3 years) and product type (jars, trays, pouches, cereals).
“From clean air and water to happy, healthy animals and tasty fruit and vegetables, it matters to us that working with nature, rather than against it, can provide us with everything we need.
”
As a pioneer for sustainability in the industry, HiPP takes pride in its wide-ranging environmental efforts. The brand’s commitment to animal welfare includes gentle and species-appropriate animal husbandry techniques as well as the protection of pollinators and promotion of biodiversity. Out on the fields, HiPP seeks to maintain rich and fertile farmland for future generations through a number of methods, such as crop rotations and maintaining close relationships with its farmers. The brand also does its part to reduce food waste by utilising fruits and vegetables that supermarkets deem too little, large, or ‘ugly’ for sales.
Learn more on hipp.co.uk
Holle (Demeter)
Holle has been dedicated to natural ingredients since its founding 85+ years ago and therefore always prohibited the use of pesticides or chemical fertilisers. The Swiss brand’s baby and toddler portfolio features a diverse range of porridges, mueslis, pouches, cereals, and jars.
Today, the ingredients in Holle’s baby food are cultivated using a mix of biodynamic and organic farming techniques. While Holle sources some of its crops, such as grains, from Demeter-certified farms in Germany, others are grown on organic farms in other parts of Europe, such as Italy or Hungary.
Biodynamic farming merges organic practices with esoteric growing cycle concepts. Thus, all actors in the agricultural system—including seeds, plants, animals, and humans—are considered to have unique and significant roles to play. The result is a balanced space in which all organisms coexist to make up one whole, living organism, namely the farm itself. Within this approach, the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides and GMO technologies is prohibited. Hence, parents can trust that the ingredients in Holle’s baby foods are both ethically farmed and natural. Holle’s further commitments also include a number of social responsibility and climate protection measures, such as the introduction of CO2 neutral baby porridges and projects that promote biodiversity.
Learn more on gb.holle.ch
Nuri
Founded in 2017 by Jana Lange and Josephine Bayer, over the past three years, Nuri has proven itself as a promising innovator in the baby food industry. In contrast to conventional baby foods, which utilise heating techniques for food conservation, Nuri relies on shock freezing technology to maximise the nutrient, flavour, colour, and consistency retention of ingredients. The Berlin-based brand’s frozen, organic baby food currently consists of mash in three categories (fruit, vegetables, meat/fish) and will soon also expand its range to include a selection of finger foods. Nuri’s baby foods do not contain any salt, sugar, spices, additives, thickeners, or preservatives. It specifically targets health-conscious parents who express scepticism about conventional baby foods but do not have the time to cook nourishing, fresh foods for their babies on a daily basis.
Beyond the commitment to 100% organic and natural ingredients, Nuri’s sustainability efforts include 100% recyclable packaging and reduction of CO2 emissions by refraining from utilising glass (which is heavy to transport) alongside a list of renewable energy commitments.
Furthermore, by portioning foods into 10 g pellets that can be kept in the freezer for up to 15 months, parents are empowered to portion their baby’s meals according to their age and eating habits which ultimately results in the reduction of food waste.
Learn more on nuriforbabies.de
Little Tummy
Guided by the motto ‘Mums Empowering Mums’, Little Tummy was founded by Nadine Hellmann and Dr. Sophie Niedermaier-Patramani after the duo recognised the lack of availability of ready-made yet fresh and organic meals for babies in the United Kingdom. Sophie is not only a mother herself but incidentally also a LMU and Harvard-trained paediatrician. Therefore, not only does she truly understand the importance of nurturing baby’s growing minds and bodies from a medical perspective but her qualifications equipped her with the knowledge and skills to carefully research and test hundreds of ingredients for the development of Little Tummy’s cold-pressed, organic baby food meals.
Hence, Little Tummy utilises a cold pressure technology called High-Pressure Processing (HPP) to ensure the safety of their foods while maximising the retention of the nutritional content, flavours, and textures.
“We are here to change baby food for the better! With Little Tummy we support you to nurture your baby’s nutritional needs during the most critical time in their lives ” - Sophie & Nadine
Little Tummy exclusively sources 100% organic ingredients from the United Kingdom and European Union and all its products are certified with the EU organic seal as a proof of commitment to the highest quality standards. Little Tummy’s pots are made from toxin-free and BPA-free plastics. The brand’s packaging, including its cool packs and insulation used for transportation, is 100% recyclable. Moreover, product deliveries are only initiated once a week to help decrease the brand’s CO2 footprint. In 2019, Little Tummy received a gold medal at the Absolutely Mama Awards.
Learn more on littletummy.co
Imagery: (1) Patrick Fore via unsplash.com, (2) HiPP, (3) Holle, (4) Nuri, (5) Little Tummy
12 Best Organic Baby Food Brands of 2023
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Whether your child is at stage 1 or stage 3, there's something here for them.
By Stefani Sassos, M.
S., R.D.N., C.S.O., C.D.N., NASM-CPT
New! You can now save articles. It's free!
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As a busy parent, time isn’t always on your side. Making baby food from scratch can be stressful and time consuming, especially when it comes to appeasing picky eaters. Luckily, there are several pre-made organic baby food options that take the guesswork out of feeding your child.
Since the National Organic Program of the USDA has developed strict rules and regulations that govern USDA certified organic foods, those carrying the USDA organic seal cannot contain GMOs or any artificial preservatives, colors or flavors. And certain studies show that organic fruits and vegetables have significantly more antioxidant polyphenols than conventionally grown produce. Encouraging an abundance and variety of fruits and vegetables at all ages is key, but organically grown produce can provide some additional benefits without the GMOs or preservatives.
And speaking of ages, our nutrition experts point out that baby food stages aren’t standardized but there are general guidelines that many brands utilize. Keep in mind that every baby develops differently, and some babies are ready for stage 2 before they are 7 months old, while others may not be ready until they are closer to 10 months old. Talk to your pediatrician to help guide you throughout the process, and remember that it’s important for babies to advance through the stages on their own time.
As a general rule of thumb, Stage 1 foods generally consist of a single ingredient purees and are ideal for babies ages 4-6 months. Stage 2 foods are best for babies ages 6-9 months and start to incorporate more than one ingredient. Stage 3 foods are for babies 9-12 months, and they feature a lot of different textures and new flavors. Stage 4 foods are for babies at least one year of age and typically indicate that table food can be introduced.
A note on heavy metals in baby food: If you’ve heard about concerns regarding heavy metals in baby food, it’s important to know that they are naturally occurring and enter the food supply from natural sources like soil, water and air.
It is nearly impossible to completely avoid these metals, but parents can minimize the risk by feeding their baby a variety of foods. Opt for grain-based cereals and snacks instead of rice-based options and be sure to limit fruit juices. Our experts say you can and should keep giving carrots and sweet potatoes because they contain important nutrients, but given that they grow in the ground, they may naturally contain higher levels of heavy metals so be sure to serve them along with other fruits and vegetables.
To make sure you're giving your child the very best, we put several brands to the test through a panel of kids, moms and editors to see which organic baby food products are the best for your baby. We’ve also included information on what measures each brand is taking regarding minimizing heavy metals in their products. Here are the best organic baby foods:
Once Upon a Farm
Organic Fruit & Veggie Blend Baby Sampler
Once Upon A Farm
SHOP AT AMAZON
Cerebelly
Organic Baby Puree Pouches
Cerebelly
SHOP AT AMAZON
Holle USA
Organic Fruit Puree
Holle USA
SHOP AT AMAZON
Happy Family Organics
Pouches & Jars
SHOP AT AMAZON
Plum
Organics Pouches
SHOP AT AMAZON
ALDI
Little Journey Pouches
SHOP AT ALDI
Serenity Kids
Organic Savory Veggies and Ethically Sourced Meats Variety Pack
Serenity Kids
$34 AT AMAZON
Yumi
Blends
Yumi
SHOP AT HELLOYUMI.
COM
Amara
Organic Baby Food Pouches
Amara
SHOP AT AMAZON
Little Spoon
Little Spoon
This subscription-based baby food service brings a unique twist to the traditional baby food we see on the market. Our nutrition pros appreciate that the organic baby blends feature nutritious ingredient combinations including chia seeds, buckwheat, pumpkin seed and hemp seeds. Plus, they offer a line of small packs called boosters that act as nutritional supplements to mix into your baby’s food that our mommy testers loved. You can select from four different types of boosters that are carefully sourced with vitamins, minerals, probiotics and organic produce.
Their line of Babyblends purees are now Clean Label Project verified, which tests for over 400 industrial environmental contaminants including heavy metals and more.
SUBSCRIBE NOW
Gerber
Organic Pouches & Freshful Start
SHOP AT AMAZON
Tiny Organics
Tiny Organics
These organic baby and toddler meals are conveniently delivered to your door and are packed with super nutrients.
Our nutrition pros and testers both love that Tiny products are free from the big 8 allergens. Curated by a team of chef and neonatal nutritionists, the meals are made fresh and shipped frozen. Their new Tiny Beginnings product line has six different plant-based baby meal options to choose from and is created for 4-8-month-olds.
When sourcing ingredients, Tiny's team shared with GH that they require the farmers to provide heavy metal tests on the lots from the year prior and when they harvest the new lot. The team also does internal lab tests on specific ingredients to make sure it is within the brand's specifications. All ingredients are all sustainably sourced within the US from local farms to reduce carbon footprint and are USDA-certified organic.
SUBSCRIBE NOW
How we tested
Registered dietitians in the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab evaluated dozens of baby food products, specifically analyzing ingredient lists and nutrition labels.
Our nutrition experts prioritized USDA Certified Organic options made with wholesome ingredients and free of artificial preservatives, colors or flavors. We also investigated efforts that the brands are making to minimize heavy metal exposure in their products. In addition to expert analysis, we recruited a panel of parents and little ones to provide real-life feedback on quality, variety, portion sizes, convenience, packaging and more. We’re confident that our top picks are the best organic baby food options to provide exceptional nourishment and quality.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
As deputy director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab for the past two years, Stefani Sassos, MS, RDN, CSO, CDN, NASM-CPT handles all nutrition content, product testing and evaluation. She stays up to date on the latest research to provide evidence-based reporting on all things diet and nutrition, and she also runs large-scale tests and analysis for products ranging from protein bars to supplements.
She has a master's degree in clinical nutrition from New York University and has been a registered dietitian for six years, working in the clinical setting prior to Good Housekeeping and obtaining advanced credentials and board certifications in the nutrition field. As a new mom to a 6-month-old baby girl, Stefani is personally invested in thoroughly vetting and testing baby food products for her family and yours.
Stefani Sassos, M.S., R.D.N., C.S.O., C.D.N., NASM-CPT Nutrition Lab Deputy Director Stefani (she/her) is a registered dietitian, a NASM-certified personal trainer and the deputy director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab, where she handles all nutrition-related content, testing and evaluation.
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Three British healthy food brands
Anna-Maria Kotsyuba,@angliya_food
"Nutritionist", "gluten", "glycemic index", "simple carbohydrates" are terms that have recently but rapidly entered our lives.
Is healthy eating a fashion statement or a vital necessity?
More and more people are thinking about healthy and wholesome food, giving preference to products created and grown with minimal use of chemicals. Some people are led to this topic by ordinary curiosity: can a healthy diet be tasty?! For some, it is the desire to diversify their gastronomic experience. Some switch to a healthy diet for medical reasons. nine0003
Where can you try and buy ingredients that can be used to prepare healthy meals, or ready-made healthy goodies?
Superfood Bakery
Gluten-free, dairy-free baking mix company founded by Tatiana and Xenia. The main ideology: food as a guarantee of a healthy and happy life. Most semi-finished products on the market contain a large amount of chemical additives, flavor enhancers and hidden sugar. Often this causes serious diseases such as diabetes, obesity, etc.
That's why Superfood Bakery makes baking mixes using only organic gluten-free flour and coconut sugar, and no preservatives.
So, the basis of the brownie mix consists of dark rice flour, coconut sugar, cocoa powder and tapioca flour. Water and vegetable oil must be added to the finished mixture, and after 15 minutes you can enjoy real brownies - slightly moist inside, with a chocolate crisp on the outside. Delicious, simple, useful. You can diversify the recipe by adding nuts, berries and other toppings. nine0003
Range of mixes for pancakes, brownies and biscuits. The cost of one package is £4.95. The products are available from health food stores in London such as Whole Foods, Planet Organic, Daylesford, As Nature Intended, Revital and hundreds of other stores across the UK, as well as online at Ocado, Gousto and Farmdrop.
Nush
Bethany and Paul Eaton founded their almond milk yogurt company in December 2016. They experimented right in the kitchen of their house, and their children Megan and James became the first tasters. nine0003
The main idea of the company is to abandon animal milk and create healthy dairy-free yoghurts that have a structure and consistency close to the usual yoghurts.
Almond milk has become an excellent basis for production.
Nush purchases European almonds and controls the almond milk production process itself. In 2017, the range included four flavors of almond milk yoghurts, in 2018, the UK's first dairy-free almond-based cheeses with a delicate creamy taste, as well as cashew milk yoghurts, appeared. Tubes are in great demand - tubes with a mixture of yogurt and berry puree. Free of sugar, animal milk, gluten and soy. I often drink them after my workout at the gym. Nutritious and do not take up much space in a sports bag. nine0003
Nush products are available at Sainsbury's, Waitrose and health food stores such as Planet Organic and TheVeganKind.
Deliciously Ella
A company that produces products based on natural plant ingredients. The history of Deliciously Ella is connected with the personal history of her owner and creator Ella. In 2011, the girl was diagnosed with a serious illness, and she was forced to look for alternative methods of treatment, since medicinal cocktails did not improve her condition.
nine0003
So Ella came to a plant-based diet and changed her lifestyle. For starters, she became a blogger to motivate herself to cook delicious vegetable dishes. Later, cooking lessons and books appeared, as well as a mobile application.
Since 2015 the company has been led by Ella and Matthew Mills. The company's product range includes granola, oatmeal bars, frozen meals and peanut butter balls. Products are presented in 6 thousand stores in the UK and Ireland. Deliciously Ella is located in Oxford Street. It is open every day and offers a large selection of plant-based dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. nine0003
It makes sense: organic products in the UK
Publications
Life in UK
It makes sense: organic products in the UK
20/06/2018 14:56
Elena Petrova
Life in the UK
organic
According to statistics published in February 2018 by the British Soil Association Organic, sales of organically grown food increased by 6% compared to last year.
Consumers are increasingly interested in eco-friendly products and are willing to pay for them. nine0003
Most UK shops offer organic meats, eggs, cereals, fruits and vegetables along with regular food. However, the prices for such products bite. It is sometimes difficult for the buyer to understand whether such a price is justified or whether this is a marketing trap.
The editors of the newspaper "Anglia" decided to compare prices in the stores of the Waitrose retail chain for products grown in an ecological and conventional way. Here's what we got:
| Organic (Waitrose Duchy) | Regular product (Waitrose Essential) | |
| Strawberries (per 1 kg) | £13.33 | £6.5 |
| Tomatoes (per 1 kg) | £6.35 | £2.6 |
| Broccoli (per 1 kg) | £4.71 | £1.55 |
| Chicken fillet (per 1 kg) | £22.0 | £16. 99 |
| Whole milk (1 litre) | 81.4p | 67.5p |
| One medium egg | 30p | 22.5p |
As you can see, organic products cost almost twice as much as conventional products.
What are organic products
Photo by wikimedia.org
Organic products in England are easy to identify. First, the packaging will always say Organic. Second, the Soil Association Organic and/or EU Organic Farming logos will be affixed. nine0003
Soil Association Organic is a non-profit organization responsible for certifying over 80% of organic products in the UK. Today, all such products are regulated by EU Organic Farming standards.
Soil Association Certified Organic Farms are not allowed to use synthetic pesticides, synthetic mineral fertilizers, artificial food additives, growth regulators, or any genetic modifications. Eco-farms are also subject to annual inspection by the Soil Association - certification includes, among other things, an inspection for the quality of the soil composition.
Farmers are encouraged to keep the results of previous inspections, as well as invoices for the purchase of fertilizers, seeds and other items. nine0003
In the manufacture of organic products, refining, mineralization, the use of artificial flavors and dyes are prohibited, and the use of substances and processing processes that reduce the nutritional properties of the finished product is also not allowed.
Why eco-products are more expensive
Everything is logical here - farming without the use of synthetic pesticides is more energy-intensive, and yields are lower, therefore, labor is more expensive, and therefore the final price is higher. nine0003
If we talk about animal husbandry, then the eco-standard sets a limit on the maintenance of livestock, and the standard for animal husbandry must also be observed, which does not allow the use of growth hormones and antibiotics. In addition, animals must graze freely in the meadows, and not huddle indoors.
It is logical that such living conditions lead to the establishment of a high price for the final product. For example, on conventional farms, there are several units of livestock and poultry per square meter. Animals can be kept indoors under artificial lighting for days, they are fed with a special feed mixture so that they gain weight faster. Naturally, animal meat due to such conveyor production will cost the end buyer less than meat from an eco-farm. nine0003
Eco-products and health
According to regulations, only copper, sulfur, soapy water and natural insecticide derris are allowed to be used in organic farming. Ordinary farms, in turn, may have about 275 active ingredients in their arsenal to control pests and increase yields.
Many synthetic pesticides are derivatives of the petroleum industry and appeared relatively recently, at the beginning of the 20th century. According to the results of numerous tests, products from conventional farms contain pesticide residues.
Representatives of EU organic farming claim that the amount of such substances is small and does not harm the human body. nine0003
However, many independent studies claim that the effects of synthetic pesticides on the body in the long term are not well understood. Naturally, a sharp deterioration in well-being is not observed, however, such substances have a cumulative effect. Nutritionists and health professionals fear that synthetic foods act like xenoestrogens and can disrupt the endocrine system. Therefore, it is still recommended to buy organically grown food whenever possible. This applies not only to fruits and vegetables, but also to grain products (bread, flour), dairy products, meat and poultry. nine0003
How to save money
The non-profit organization Pesticide Action Network UK has identified foods with the highest pesticide content: citrus fruits, strawberries, pears, grapes, apples, cherries, peaches and nectarines, pineapples, apricots, bananas, lettuce, kale, cucumbers.
A more detailed list can be found on the Pesticide Action Network UK http://www.pan-uk.org/our-food/.
Eating 100% organically grown food is expensive, but there is always an opportunity to approach it economically:
- try to replace some products on the Pesticide Action Network UK list with organic ones;
- buy seasonal fruits and vegetables. You should not buy berries in winter, replace them with frozen eco-berries;
- if possible, grow vegetables and berries in your garden;
— subscribe to the delivery of seasonal products from eco-farms. The cost of one weekly supply for 4-6 people will cost £18-20 on average. Some of the most popular services are Riverford, Abel & Cole; nine0003
- Please note that organic products in farmers' markets are usually cheaper than their counterparts in supermarkets.
Helpful Hints
Nutritionists recommend rinsing fruit and vegetables well in running or lightly salted water, then wiping with a towel to remove up to 75% of pesticides.
