Healthiest organic baby food
12 Best Organic Baby Food Brands to Buy 2022
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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 of 2022:
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
Serenity Kids
Organic Savory Veggies and Ethically Sourced Meats Variety Pack
Serenity Kids
$34 AT AMAZON
ALDI
Little Journey Pouches
SHOP AT ALDI
Amara
Organic Baby Food Pouches
Amara
SHOP AT AMAZON
Gerber
Organic Pouches & Freshful Start
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
Yumi
Blends
Yumi
SHOP AT HELLOYUMI.COM
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.
The Best Organic Baby Foods of 2022
Feeding
written by JACLYN VORAN
The Everymom’s product selections are curated by the editorial team. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely love.
It’s time to start your baby on solid foods—congrats! You and your baby have reached a big milestone.
If you’re anything like us, you may feel overwhelmed at where to start. It seems that everyone has an opinion on what’s best for babies when it comes to, well, just about everything—and starting solid foods is no exception.
Whether you’re taking the puree approach, diving straight into baby-led weaning, or some combination of the two, the most important thing is starting your baby off with a healthy and balanced diet. This means a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products (that don’t include milk since the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastmilk or formula until 12 months before offering them whole milk).
With so many baby food options out there today, it’s easy to get confused and to wonder what’s best or if there’s really any difference.
Is Organic Baby Food Actually Better?
Nutritionally, no. When it comes to chemicals and pesticides, yes.
Research does not suggest that organic food provides major nutritional benefits over non-organic food, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
However, organic baby foods may have lower levels of certain pesticides and other chemicals, the AAP says.
The one thing all experts agree on is that offering your baby a wide variety of healthy options, whether they’re organic or not, is what matters most.
When Should I Start Giving My Baby Solids?
Most experts recommend waiting until your baby is 6 months old to start solids.
The AAP advises that you make sure your baby is physically ready for solids—they should be able to hold their head up and sit in a high chair or infant seat with good head control.
Another sign of readiness? They open their mouth when food comes their way or when they watch you eating. They may even reach for your food.
What Kind of Food Should I Give My Baby First?
To prevent choking, it’s best to start babies on soft or pureed food. Initially, you may want to limit foods to a single ingredient at a time for a few days to watch for any reactions before introducing a new one.
After a couple months, your baby’s diet should include lots of different types of food, including breastmilk and/or formula, fruits, vegetables, meat, cereal, eggs, and fish.
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HiPP: the highest quality organic baby food
We know that many mothers cringe at the thought of canned baby food, preferring zucchini, broccoli or bananas from the nearest market. But what do you know about store-bought zucchini, "farm" broccoli and "bio" beef from even the so-called "eco" meat department? Are there any guarantees of quality when the Russian market is simply in trouble with organic vegetables and fruits?
The choice of the first feeding method is always up to the mother.
Yes, baby food standards are now strict in Russia and are met by all manufacturers. Despite this, baby food standards allow the use of chemicals and pesticides in minimal doses that are not considered to affect the baby's body. Organic baby food means that the ingredients are grown without the use of pesticides, chemical fertilizers and growth hormones. nine0005
In the case of HiPP baby food, this also means that each jar passed 260 checks along the way. Two hundred and sixty! But first things first.
HiPP: over 60 years of experience in the production of organic baby food
For more than 60 years, HiPP organic baby food of the highest quality has been produced in the Bavarian town of Pfaffenhofen. It all started even earlier and literally with crackers - in 1899, Josef Hipp in his HiPP confectionery made the first children's porridge from crackers, milk and water. Over time, the brand has gradually become the market leader in baby food in Germany: still a family business, the HiPP group under the leadership of Dr.
Klaus Hipp and his son Stefan has become the No. 1 brand in organic baby food in the world. nine0005
In Russian reality, HiPP and its production facilities appeared much later. In 2007, construction began on a plant in Mamonovo, 60 kilometers from Kaliningrad. Five years after the opening of the enterprise in 2014, a food embargo struck, and production was on the verge of closing. Read more about how HiPP in Russia survived the hard times in the report by Natalia Paramonova.
At present, the 11,000-square-meter facility in Mamonovo, certified according to the European standard, produces HiPP organic baby food, which is then shipped throughout Russia and Belarus. nine0005
Where do carrots come from?
To call a product organic, it is not surprising that organic raw materials are also needed – in the case of HiPP, these are vegetables, fruits and meat for mono- and mixed purees. For organic products, the land for sowing is carefully selected, fruits and vegetables ripen naturally without the use of mineral fertilizers and pesticides.
The same care is taken with the animals whose meat is used for the production of HiPP organic menus. All animals - turkeys, pigs, cows or chickens - are kept in the natural environment for each species, they eat organic food. If desired, the origin of each animal can be documented. nine0005
In addition to the benefits for babies and peace of mind for mothers, one cannot but note the value of organic products for nature - over 8,000 farmers produce organic quality products for HiPP, annually 80,000 hectares of soil and groundwater are not treated with chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
At the moment, vegetables are supplied to HiPP’s Russian production from Poland, Germany and Austria, fruits are from Italy, Spain, Germany, South Africa and Costa Rica, beef is grown in a certified farm in the Kaluga region, potatoes go to Kaliningrad with organic farm in the Tula region. Produced in HiPP's own factory in Hungary, fish "dishes" are sourced from the North Atlantic, certified by the Marine Resources Council (MSC), and the "Responsible Fishing" label on the packaging ensures that the fish are caught in a sustainable manner.
respect for the environment while preserving the natural resources of fishing. nine0005
For the production of baby food, frozen vegetables are used, since shock freezing retains all the beneficial properties and taste, while increasing the shelf life, and, accordingly, the shelf life of the finished product.
See packaging
How do you know if a product is organic? Are there any special labeling requirements?
Euroleaf (European Union) means that it is a certified organic product, i.e. methods of obtaining raw materials, production, processing, storage and transportation and quality characteristics of the final product meet the requirements of the EU organic standard. nine0005
HiPP ORGANIC means that HiPP has even more stringent requirements for the production of organic food than prescribed by EU legislation and organic standards.
When choosing a product, also pay attention to the age recommendations of the manufacturer and the degree of grinding of the product: the words “homogenized”, “mashed” and “coarsely ground” indicate the degree of grinding of the puree: a homogeneous consistency or with pieces.
nine0005
Let's go back to our "zucchini" and the widespread question of mothers: "Where can I find fruits and vegetables grown without pesticides, chemicals and growth hormones"? We repeat that the choice is, of course, yours, and we, who are all for organic, are pleased that HiPP produces premium organic baby food in our country and for our children. And this certified organic quality moms can trust one hundred percent.
What is organic baby food? Organic Baby Food Hipp
The birth of a child can be called without exaggeration the most significant and joyful event in the family. However, in addition to joy, this event also brings natural troubles - the baby must be provided with everything necessary for normal growth and development, create comfortable conditions for him, and protect him from injuries and infections. And one of the most important questions that arise from the very first days of a child's life is how to properly organize his nutrition.
Why is proper nutrition so important in the first years of a baby's life? nine0005
As you know, the most important components of a child's health, intellectual and creative abilities are laid in the first three years of life.
All body systems are formed for independent functioning: respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, central nervous system, etc. That is why it is so important to build a proper and balanced diet for a baby at this age. Lack of any nutrients can cause growth retardation, physical and mental development, as well as a violation of the formation of the bone skeleton and teeth. nine0005
In this regard, the child's diet should contain all the necessary nutrients: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals in an amount appropriate for a certain age of the child. And this is not the only requirement. In addition to nutritional value and balance, baby food should not contain any impurities that are dangerous to his health, such as pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, industrial waste, heavy metals, microbial toxins and many others. After all, a child's body is much more sensitive than an adult's body to any harmful influences - its defense systems are still very weak, the neutralization and elimination of toxic substances are slow, immunity is just beginning to develop.
And, finally, children's food should be simply tasty so that the baby eats it with pleasure. nine0005
How to start complementary foods and how to choose a safe diet?
Elena Reztsova, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor, pediatrician of the highest category, head of the Yunona Medica clinic (Moscow):
"The first, earliest complementary foods are fruit and vegetable purees. They are best absorbed the gastrointestinal tract of the baby, while preparing him for the adoption of other products.At about 7 months of age, cottage cheese and other children's dairy products, as well as meat in the form of meat and meat and vegetable puree are gradually added to the child's diet.Gradually, the amount of complementary foods is increased, reducing frequency of breastfeeding, and eventually completely abandon it.The scheme for the introduction of complementary foods and their composition must be discussed with the pediatrician observing the child.0005
From the moment of the introduction of complementary foods, a natural question arises: how to choose products that are complete in composition and free from harmful impurities? The best baby food is food that consists of environmentally friendly, natural products.
That is, products that are grown in ecologically clean conditions: on ecologically clean lands, only with the help of natural growing methods, without the use of artificial fertilizers. Nutrition made using bio-organic technology."
How is organic food created?
Bio-organic production is aimed at ensuring that the resulting products are environmentally friendly, natural and full of nutrients. To achieve this, BIO products are produced and processed under certain conditions.
- The fields where vegetables and fruits are grown for the production of organic baby food are located far from highways and industrial zones. nine0083
- The soil on them is regularly checked for the absence of artificial fertilizers.
- Plant seeds are not chemically treated.
- Do not use herbicides or insecticides. Weed control is carried out exclusively by hand, and to control insect pests in the field area, their natural enemies - birds and beneficial insects - are bred.
- Plant growth is not stimulated by chemical fertilizers and hormones. This allows you to get an environmentally friendly product. nine0083
- Harvest timing is carefully controlled to ensure that fruits are not underripe or overripe. Vegetables, fruits, cereals are sorted by hand.
- Water is taken from natural environmentally friendly sources and purified without the use of chemicals.
Products made using this technology are useful and absolutely safe.
Who produces organic baby food (BIO products)?
For more than 50 years, the German company HiPP has been using sustainably grown BIO products to produce baby food. nine0005
Russian mothers now also have the opportunity to choose natural, environmentally friendly baby food for their baby. And you can start feeding your baby with HiPP First Baby Apple puree.
"HiPP Baby's First Apple" is recommended to be included in the baby's diet from the 4th month.
