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Tune in to the latest episode of the Contemporary Pediatrics Podcast, Food Insecurity and Dangers of Infant Formula Dilution. Dr. Steven Abrams discusses the risk associated with families experiencing food insecurity when it comes to infant nutrition and how to identify and talk to food insecure families.

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After an extensive review of 55 infant formulas, Wirecutter, a New York Times company, names Perrigo Store Brand Infant Formulas among top recommendations.

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Published March 2021, Updated August 2022

You can't put a price on health and nutrition. Store brand infant formulas offer complete nutrition just like the more expensive name brand options, and meet or exceed all Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards. It’s called formula for a reason™.

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You can help your patients stretch their dollar, not their formula.

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Perrigo has announced it is making a $170 million strategic investment to expand and strengthen its U. S. infant formula manufacturing by bolstering capacity and increasing access to safe, affordable formula for infants, parents and caregivers. As part of this strategic investment, Perrigo has purchased Nestlé’s Gateway infant formula plant in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, along with the U.S. and Canadian rights to the Gerber^® Good Start^® and Good Start^® infant formula brands.

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Perrigo is the private label manufacturer behind all U.S. store brand infant formulas. Since 1997, store brand formulas have been trusted by pediatricians, parents, and leading retailers, including Walmart, Sam's Club, Costco, and Target. These stores sell store brand formulas under their own labels to caregivers across the country. Today, Perrigo produces a variety of routine and tolerance formulas to meet the needs of infants. These include milk-based, soy-based, partially hydrolyzed, reduced lactose, hypoallergenic and added rice starch infant formulas. Just like their name-brand counterparts, store brand formulas provide complete infant nutrition needed for growth and development. The FDA strictly governs the nutrition for all infant formula sold in the U.S., including specifying content of 29 nutrients, as well as packaging and labeling. Additionally, all infant formula manufacturers are required by the FDA to follow the same quality control procedures and analyze each batch of formula for required nutrients. In addition to the FDA and our own internal quality checks, many of our retail partners require regular quality inspections of our facilities throughout the manufacturing and supply chain process. After all, it is their name placed on the product.

Our dairy ingredients are sourced from leading dairy markets including the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Europe.

Our powder infant formulas are manufactured in FDA-inspected facilities in Vermont and Ohio.

Perrigo is the private label manufacturer of all Store Brand Infant Formula at retailers nationwide.

Whether a family shops at Target or Walmart, CVS or Walgreens, Amazon or Costco, they can be sure that all Store Brand Infant Formulas have met the same high-quality standards.

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"I tell every patient who isn’t nursing or who needs to supplement to get Store Brand Infant Formula. We personally used Target’s Up & Up brand. It was by far the best tolerated and least expensive. We were really happy with it."

DR. PINTER

Flushing, NY

Healthcare professionals share their experiences with Store Brand Infant Formula.

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Store brand infant formula is available nationwide at major retailers, warehouse clubs, drug stores, and food markets.

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While we don’t flood your office with samples, we can help patients try store brand for free … you can request a rebate kit for your practice, which includes important product information for you, and 50 rebate tear-sheets worth up to $20 each to hand to your patients. This helps them get started experiencing complete nutrition with everyday savings provided by store brand infant formula.

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1. Reflects an average consumption of 26 fl. oz. per day in the first year. Pricing, reconstitution rates and infant formula consumption may vary.
Based on IRi Market Advantage sales data, May 2021.
Please see product labels for full disclaimers.

The Best Baby Food Brands to Buy, According to Pediatric Nutritionists

Probably one of the most Instagrammable milestones that a baby achieves is starting solid foods. What is cuter than a baby covered from head to toe in pureed butternut squash baby food? Other than babies dressed like food on Halloween, nothing.

While introducing solid food to baby is a rite-of-passage, choosing the most appropriate baby food brands for your little nugget can go from exciting to stressful in a second. One walk down the baby food aisle, and you will see a sea of different brands, combos, consistencies, and cartoon characters. How does a parent know which one to choose?

We put together a guide of what dietitians look for in the best baby food brands,

Why does your baby need baby food?

First, let's break down why a parent may choose a pre-packaged baby food. After all, most baby foods are simply pureed food in a container. "Parents often purchase pre-made baby foods in order to have nourishing options readily available for them to offer or for other caretakers to offer as solids are introduced," says Ashley Smith, RD, MPH, a pediatric dietitian, and owner of nutrition counseling service Veggies & Virtue. "This can provide comfort, security, and confidence to new parents that their baby has nutrient-dense options for anyone to safely feed them. "

Whether baby food is pre-made or made from scratch, it benefits baby in many ways. "Baby food can benefit a developing child by providing necessary nutrients to support healthy growth and development, and sometimes by filling nutritional gaps that might otherwise be difficult to fill, explains nutritionist Sarah Staskiewicz, RDN, co-founder of Cultivate: Nutrition Content + Strategy.

"Baby food is a whole new world for baby! It exposes an infant to new smells, flavors, and textures. When babies start eating baby food, it helps support the development of necessary feeding skills, and gives them a sensory experience that supports the development of their sensory systems," Staskiewicz says.

How do dietitian nutritionists choose the best baby foods?

Dietitians notes that there are several factors to keep in mind when selecting the "best" baby food:

baby's trends on the growth chart
parents' beliefs and preferences surrounding factors like organic foods, GMOs, and plastic packaging
baby's unique nutrition needs

While every dietitian has his or her own criteria for what they consider a "best" baby food, some factors are common on their mental check-list.

High in veggies and low in fruit: "To choose the best baby food, I recommend looking for a combo of fruit and/or veggies plus fat content," says registered dietitian nutritionist Kacie Barnes, MCN, RDN, LD, and owner of Mama Knows Nutrition
Healthy fats: "As baby starts transitioning to less breastmilk or formula and increasing solids, it's important to maintain a good intake of fat," says Barnes.
Variety is key: "It's also important to consider variety," Barnes says. "For baby to get the best nutrition, he or she will need to eat a variety of different types of foods. This will also help protect against any potential harms, such as excess heavy metals in certain baby foods. So, it's important to avoid getting into a routine of serving baby the same foods day in and day out."
Avoid added salt and sugar: Meghan McMillin, MS, RD, CSP, LDN, IBCLC, a dietitian who is also a Board Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and owner of a private practice Mama & Sweet Pea in Chicago, agrees. She adds that parents should avoid baby foods that contain added salt and/or sugar.

Concern for allergies in baby food

While some parents try to avoid baby foods that contain ingredients that include the top 8 allergens (including peanuts and eggs) for fear of exposing their child too early and triggering an allergy in their little peanut, the American Academy of Pediatrics' position is that that earlier exposure to allergens may lead to fewer allergies in the long-term. Factors like family history and your personal pediatrician's recommendations should be taken into consideration when following this advice.

A note on heavy metals

While many consumers are avoiding certain baby food brands found to contain heavy metals, it is important to note that these contaminants exist naturally in the environment and it is impossible to avoid them, especially when considering foods that are grown in the ground.

While many dietitians did not sway from choosing one brand over another based on the heavy metal report, many do encourage limiting or avoiding rice-containing products. That's because research shows rice absorbs arsenic from the environment.

Dietitians also encourage that babies consume a variety of foods when it is age-appropriate to provide an intake of foods that may contain more heavy metals with other foods that are not as exposed.

The best baby foods, according to dietitians.

Choose from any of these dietitian-approved 11 best baby food brands depending on your baby's needs.

1. SpoonfulOne

Courtesy of SpoonfulOne

One of the most evidence-based concepts on the market is a baby food brand called SpoonfulOne. If a parent wishes to follow the American Academy of Pediatrics' guidelines of exposing baby to the top allergenic foods early in life, this company's food items support that goal.

SpoonfulOne was crafted by a pediatric allergist and provides baby with small amounts of all off the food groups associated with over 90% of food allergies.

Starting at 4-6 months, baby can be fed the mix-in powder, transition to the puffs, and eventually the oat crackers! Shockingly, they found a way to make these not taste like a fishy-peanutty-eggy mess (their products actually taste really good).

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2. Serenity Kids Organic Baby Food

Courtesy of Serenity Kids

"The reason I love Serenity Kids is that they offer an alternative to the really sweet fruit purées and focus on veggies, high-quality protein, and healthy fats," says Barnes. "If you're going to buy baby food vs. make your own, I feel like Serenity Kids is the closest you'll get to a home-cooked, wholesome meal in a pouch."

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3. Tiny Human Food Organic, Cold-Pressed Baby Food

Courtesy of Tiny Human Food

Tiny Human Food was created by a mom who felt frustrated finding refrigerated and fresh dog food available for purchase, but nothing similar for her baby. She took matters into her own hands and created a baby food that is made in small batches and pasteurized using high pressure pasteurization instead of heat (which may change the composition or vitamin content of certain foods). The food is sold in the refrigerated section and does not contain any preservatives. This baby food brand has received the Purity award by the Clean Label Project, which provides consumers assurance of ingredient purity.

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4. Little Dish Fresh Food for Toddlers

Courtesy of Little Dish

When baby grows into a toddler, Little Dish is a wonderful option when she is ready to be introduced to a variety of tastes and textures that support a diverse palate and set the stage for life-long healthy eating habits. Because Little Dish meals are "heat-and-serve", they're a wonderful solution for busy days when a homecooked meal isn't always possible.

5. Fresh Bellies

Courtesy of Fresh Bellies

With no hidden sugary goop, Fresh Bellies includes savory seasonings—real herbs and spices—that are almost never included in baby food (think garlic). This teaches young palates to love savory food instead of sugars and sets them up for a lifetime of good eating habits.

Veggies are served as veggies and fruit is served as fruit—without the hidden sweetness.

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6. Earth's Best Organic

Courtesy of Earth's Best

"I like Earth's Best as all of their baby products are unsweetened, unsalted and don't contain any artificial flavors, colors or preservatives," explains Alex Caspero, RDN, CPT, a plant-based dietitian and co-founder of Plant-Based Juniors. "Lastly, they conduct rigorous product testing to guarantee quality and safety."

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7. Square Baby Organic Baby Food Meal Plan

Courtesy of Square Baby

"I love Square Baby," explains Elizabeth Ward, MS, RD, author of Expect the Best, Your Guide to Healthy Eating Before, During, and After Pregnancy. "Their food is organic, fresh, and much lower in sugar than other brands. Plus, the company delivers it frozen to your door. The CEO is a registered dietitian who has designed each of the foods as well as customized meal plans for each stage of development. Square Meals provide 100% of a baby's nutrition, which takes the guesswork out of feeding a child. I also like the company for taking on the allergy question and offering foods with peanut, soy, fish, dairy, and eggs."

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8. Once Upon a Farm Cold-Pressed, Organic Baby Food

Courtesy of Once Upon a Farm

"I have recommended—and personally love—Once Upon a Farm," says registered dietitian Colene Stoernell, MS, RDN, LD. "The ingredients are all real foods and is as close as you can get to a prepackaged item that is almost as good as homemade."

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9. Lil' Gourmets

Courtesy of Lil' Gourmets

"I recommend the brand Lil' Gourmets. They are organic and feature amazing spice blends which provide babies to a wide variety of flavors!" explains McMillin. Vegetables are the star of these meals with 70-95% veggies and complex spice blends.

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10. Bambino's Frozen Baby Food

Courtesy of Bambino's

Bambino's Baby Food was created by a physician who comes from a long line of farmers, so she understands the importance of quality farming practices. They source produce grown in Alaska. Why is that important? Because Alaksa is newer to agriculture, the farmers use fewer pesticides and herbicides when compared with other areas of the country.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

Bambino's provides protein and vegetables (no fruit) to familiarize baby with foods that are not so sweet. You will not find any jars or pouches in any of their packaging; their foods come in a frozen shape of a star to allow the baby to grasp the product and self-feed if it is age-appropriate. As baby gets older, the parent can defrost the star and mix it with other products like quinoa to add more texture.

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11. Sprout

Courtesy of Sprout

"I am a fan of Sprout Organic Baby Foods, as they do not contain artificial ingredients or sugars, and they lead with veggies," explains Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN, The Plant-Powered Dietitian. Sharon adds that the products "are organic and have a diverse array of plant foods, including beans, lentils, squashes, kale, and spinach."

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The worst baby foods to buy.

There are some red flags that dietitians watch out for when evaluating baby foods.

Baby foods that contain a high amount of rice

For one, many choose to avoid baby food that contains rice. "Rice cereal has been recommended as a first food for babies because rice is not a common allergen. But we now know that it's not harmful and it's actually beneficial to go right to a variety of foods including various fruits and vegetables. Rice is less nutritious than many other foods and is also known to carry high amounts of arsenic, which can be more dangerous to babies due to their small size," says Barnes. A better alternative would be an oat-based food.

Make sure your baby food does not include the following ingredients:

honey (babies should not consume honey until they are one year old)
salt
added sugars
artificial colors

Baby foods packaged in pouches

Another factor experts say qualifies a baby food as "worst" has less to do with the baby food and more to do with the packaging. Ward explains that she does not care for baby foods packaged in pouches, "which encourages babies to suck their food from a pouch instead of learning to eat from a spoon, which interferes with motor development."

Expert panels echo the concern about baby food delivered in pouches. "Complementary foods marketed in baby food pouches often have a high energy density and are predominantly extremely high in sugar content, with up to almost 90 percent of the total energy content. Regular consumption bears the risks of imbalanced nutrient provision and increased risks for dental caries and overweight," according to a position paper published in Molecular and Cellular Pediatrics in 2019.

If you're using pouches, experts suggest serving the baby food by squeezing it directly onto a spoon instead of feeding baby directly from the pouch.

Bottom line

At the end of the day, as long as baby is being fed, growing appropriately, and reaching important milestones, your baby is likely being provided with enough nutrients to meet her needs.

how to choose the right one and which milk formula is best for a baby?

WHO recommends that mothers exclusively breastfeed their babies until the age of six months. Despite the obvious health benefits of breast milk, many of them, for various reasons, cannot get it or do not get it enough. And then the mother has to study all the information about the features of infant formula, their composition and differences from each other.

Infant formula has been developed and improved over the years to end up like breast milk. We will find out what kind of infant formula is available and how to choose an infant formula.

The national program provides for the possibility of mixed and artificial feeding with adapted milk mixtures. They are made from animal milk, which is modified in such a way that the components of the mixture, as a result, repeat the composition and properties of breast milk and correspond to the physiological needs of children in infancy and early childhood[1].

Types of infant milk formulas:

standard or basic;
treatment and prophylactic;
medical.

Which infant formula is best? The answer depends primarily on the state of health of a particular child. It is important to remember that some children are not suitable for regular formulas, they need to eat formulas of specialized formulas: they are introduced to eliminate the symptoms of lactose intolerance, treat allergies to cow's milk proteins, reduce or stop spitting up, get rid of constipation and other problems.

All mixtures are given as prescribed by a physician. Despite this, parents should themselves understand the composition and features of artificial nutrition in order to clearly know which set of components the baby needs and better understand the recommendations of a specialist.

This is important

The first rule when choosing infant formula is to work with your pediatrician to find out what your baby needs and find out if the formula is right for him. The best infant formula is the one on which the baby gains weight normally and also feels good during and after feeding.

Types of infant formulas by age

Mixtures are selected not only by purpose, but also by age. According to the numbers indicated on the jars (packs), which are called steps, you can determine the stage of feeding:

1st stage (initial, or starting mixtures) - from 0 to 6 months;
2nd stage (subsequent mixtures) - from six months to 12 months;
Stage 3 (milk drinks) - from one to three years.

Note that this is not the only possible classification. For example, among milk formulas there are universal "from 0 to 12 months", designed to feed a child throughout the first year of his life, and mixtures labeled "PRE" for premature babies.

Age-appropriate formulas are formulated to meet the nutritional needs of newborns, infants and toddlers and their ability to digest and absorb food. Mixtures vary greatly in the amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and minerals. And the transition to the mixture of the next step should be timely, because a lack of nutrients or, conversely, an “overload” with them can lead to health problems for the baby.

Important

The second rule in choosing a formula is to focus on a specific age group: formula 2 formula 2 must not be given before six months or one and a half years, formula cannot be replaced with regular milk. After a year, you should also not rush to introduce whole milk: it has few vitamins, minerals, but a lot of protein and fat, and this can cause digestive disorders. From formula 3 formula, a one-year-old baby will receive a significant portion of the daily requirement of nutrients in a form suitable for his small tummy.

Types of infant formula by form

There are two types: liquid and dry. Ready-made infant formulas in liquid form are not widely used in Russia. Powdered infant formula is the most popular. Not only are they economical, their free-flowing texture allows you to measure the exact amount of powder your child needs according to their age. This is a convenient option for both supplementary feeding and full artificial feeding. You just need to follow the recommendations of the doctor regarding the volume of servings, and the manufacturer's instructions for diluting the mixture in water. If you add powder in excess of the norm or, conversely, less, this will lead to a change in the concentration of nutrients, which can even be harmful to the health of the baby.

What is contained in infant formula and how they differ in composition

As a rule, infant formula contains four groups of components: protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamin and mineral. What then distinguishes one product from another? They differ in the degree of similarity of the composition with breast milk and in the number of basic and the presence of additional functional components that have a beneficial effect on child development.

Proteins. Mature breast milk contains about 60% whey protein and 40% casein ^[2] . In many initial formulas, similar proportions - so the protein is easier to digest. Whey protein in the stomach forms a soft clot that resembles cottage cheese in texture. It is faster and easier to ferment and digest than casein, which takes much longer to digest. In subsequent mixtures, the ratio of proteins of the whey fraction to the casein fraction of 50:50 will be optimal.

Note

For better digestion of milk protein, demineralized whey is added to some mixtures. This increases the amount of whey protein and the quality of the protein component. And at the same time, thanks to this, the growth of all body tissues, good weight and healthy kidneys of the baby are ensured.

Fats serve as an energy reserve for the whole organism. Breast milk fats consist of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, including linoleic and α-linolenic acids - they should be a mandatory component of dry infant formula. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA), which are found in breast milk, are used to further fortify formulas. They are important for the development of mental and visual functions.

To form the fat component of the mixture, vegetable oils are mainly used: sunflower, palm, coconut, soybean, corn and other raw materials.

This is interesting

There is a tendency in modern baby food production to use milk lipids instead of palm oil in formulas as a source of useful essential fatty acids, including the “correct” palmitic acid. Such a fatty composition makes the stool softer in artificial children.

Carbohydrates. Most formulas contain lactose (milk sugar, the main source of carbohydrates in breast milk) as the carbohydrate component, which aids in the absorption of macronutrients. There is also a combination of lactose and maltodextrin (it contains a smaller proportion), due to which the baby gets a longer feeling of fullness after consuming the mixture. Also important is the presence in mixtures of prebiotic oligosaccharides (POS) characteristic of mother's milk: together with bifidobacteria, they help resist the growth of harmful bacteria and stimulate the intestines and immune system of a formula-fed baby.

Vitamins and minerals are contained in a certain concentration and ratio. However, due to the reduced digestibility of vitamins from the mixture, they are added to the formula in larger quantities when compared with mother's milk [3].

In infancy and early life, it is especially important that children receive adequate amounts of vitamin D (prevention of rickets), iron (reduces anemia), calcium (strengthens bones and teeth), iodine (involved in intellectual development) and B vitamins (immunity support factor and protection against neurological disorders, sleep disorders, tremors).

Permissible levels of all nutrients in infant formula are regulated by the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union "On the Safety of Milk and Dairy Products" (TR CU 033/2013)[4].

This is important

The third rule in choosing a mixture is to thoroughly study the composition. In addition to essential nutrients, some formulas are fortified with functional ingredients that enhance their quality and benefits, including improving digestion and immunity, developing cognitive functions and developing vision in newborns and infants.

Cow vs goat milk

When it comes to formula base, cow milk is more commonly used than goat milk. Despite the apparent simplicity of choosing the type of milk, its good tolerance is of great importance. This means clear skin without rashes and redness, no colic, no profuse regurgitation and mucus in the stool, as well as excellent appetite and weight gain in the child.

Information

Some children have a poor digestive system for milk protein, but they still tolerate goat's milk well. If there is evidence of individual intolerance to cow's milk proteins in the family history, then the child can be recommended a goat mixture. However, the identified childhood allergy to cow's milk proteins requires diet therapy using specialized mixtures based on hydrolysis or amino acids.

Fatty components also facilitate the process of digestion due to their size: in goat's milk they reach 0.1-2 microns, and in cow's - 2-4 microns.