Is earth's best baby food safe

Earth's Best FAQs - Earth's Best Organic Infant and Toddler Foods

Our commitment to food safety:

Nothing is more important to Earth’s Best than the trust and confidence of parents that our organic products provide safe nutrition for healthy babies. Our rigorous internal standards and testing procedures ensure Earth’s Best products meet or exceed the current federal guidelines. In addition, we work collaboratively with the Baby Food Council (composed of other manufacturers, the Environmental Defense Fund and Cornell University), the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture to continuously refine and improve upon the standards to ensure our products exceed safety and nutrition standards – including reducing the levels of heavy metals that occur naturally in soil and water.

You may have seen a Congressional committee report examining the levels of naturally occurring heavy metals in baby food. Earth’s Best products were covered in that report, along with the products of others in our industry. We are disappointed that the report examined outdated data and does not reflect our current practices. The report also inaccurately characterized a meeting with the FDA. Like any food producer, we meet with regulatory and oversight agencies to refine and update our policies and procedures to ensure the safety of our products. As science evolves, so too should our standards and practices, which is why we met with the FDA last year to discuss how to better refine those standards and practices.

Following the meeting, we took several steps to reduce the levels of heavy metals in our finished products – including no longer using brown rice in our products that are primarily rice based, changing other ingredients and conducting additional testing of finished product before shipping. Meeting with the FDA did what the regulatory process is supposed to: collaboratively drive improvements that benefit the consumer.

Earth’s Best has consistently supported efforts to reduce naturally occurring heavy metals from our food supply and stands ready to assist the Subcomittee’s efforts toward that goal.

Learn more about the Baby Food Council’s work.

Our consumer care department is available if you have additional questions at 1-800-442-4221

Are there heavy metals in your baby food?

Heavy metals are naturally occurring and exist in the soil, air and water all around us. Small amounts of these metals can be absorbed by food as it is grown. As a certified organic brand, Earth’s Best does not use any pesticides that contribute to increased levels of metal. We follow guidelines recommended by the FDA and Department of Agriculture to screen raw materials and finished products to ensure all food meets or exceeds safety and nutrition standards and to continually develop new safety standards and practices.

ALLERGENS

Do your products contain the 8 major allergens? What is your allergen policy?

We want you to know that we understand the serious nature of food allergens and we strive to eliminate risk for our consumers. Our allergen control program is the most important aspect to our manufacturing process.

We assure you that all of our manufacturing facilities follow robust allergen control programs that include staff training, segregation of allergen ingredients, production scheduling, and thorough cleaning and sanitation.

Both major and minor ingredients of all products, as well as all processing procedures and equipment, are closely scrutinized. We recommend you refer to the packaging of the individual products for allergen information. By law, we declare all 8 major US food allergens (peanuts, soybeans, milk, eggs, fish, crustaceans, tree nuts, and wheat) on our packaging.

By referencing the strict manufacturing process and production scheduling, does that mean that the product may have been processed on machinery that was thoroughly cleaned but previously processed one of the major allergens?

We don’t have dedicated facilities/equipment so the machinery may have previously processed a product with a major allergen. All of our manufacturing facilities follow rigid allergen control programs and we declare all allergens on our package labels. You may wish to review the ingredient statement with your child’s doctor to determine if it’s suitable for your needs.

Are your products gluten free?

Gluten is the general name for the proteins in wheat, rye and barley. Gluten is responsible for forming the structure of dough, holding products together and leavening. We do not have lists of products that are specifically considered to be gluten free. Reading the label is the best way to check for the presence of ingredients which contain gluten. If gluten is a major ingredient, it will be specified in the ingredient list. For consumers concerned about the presence of trace amounts of gluten, we suggest avoiding products that include oats, natural flavors or spices.

Hain Celestial Group products that make a gluten-free claim are declared as such by utilizing a triangular Gluten-Free symbol, by carrying the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) Seal, or stating “gluten free” on packaging.

In addition to meeting the FDA’s standard for ‘Gluten Free’ of less than 20 parts per million of gluten, all of our gluten free products are formulated without the presence of any gluten containing ingredients. All manufacturing facilities for Hain Celestial’s products employ good manufacturing processes and procedures to prevent allergen cross-contact. Each facility has established rigid allergen control programs that include staff training, segregation of allergen containing ingredients, production

scheduling, and thorough cleaning and sanitation. These allergen and sanitation programs are verified annually by our Quality Assurance department.

Gluten-containing ingredients:

Barley, Bulgur, Cereal Binding, Couscous, Durum, Einkorn, Emmer, Filler, Farro, Graham Flour, Kamut, Malt, Malt Extract, Malt Flavoring, Malt Syrup, Oat Bran*, Oats*, Oat Syrup*, Rye, Semolina, Spelt, Triticale, Wheat, Wheat Bran, Wheat Germ, Wheat Starch *Oats are genetically gluten free. It is, however possible for cross contact with gluten containing grains to occur during planting, growing, harvesting and processing. Because of this most oat products sourced from all parts of the world have been suspect of containing some level of detectible gluten.

PACKAGING

Is there BPA/BPS in your product packaging?

All our Earth’s Best® products are manufactured in non-BPA packaging. The non-BPA linings of our Earth’s Best® jarred food lids are made from specially designed polyester or acrylic.

How do I read the expiration date on your products?

In general, our date codes follow a Day, Month, Year format (DD,MMM,YY). The first two numbers in the code represent the day, the next three letters the month, and the next two numbers the year. Any letters and/or numbers following the date code are used for our tracking purposes.

Are your jars recyclable?

Yes, our glass jars are 100% recyclable

Can you make your pouches so they are recyclable?

While our pouches are not currently recyclable, we are actively seeking solutions that will allow our pouches to be fully recycled.

FORMULA

Where are the Earth’s Best formulas manufactured?

Earth’s Best® organic infant formulas are manufactured and packaged in the USA.

Are your formulas FDA Approved? All infant formulas must be approved by the FDA before they can be marketed.

For products containing dairy, how are the cows treated and fed? The dairy ingredients used in our Earth’s Best® Organic Infant Formula are from cows fed and raised according to organic regulations which include grass fed and organic feed.

Are Earth’s Best infant formulas clinically tested to ensure bioavailability of all nutrients?

All infant formulas are designed to provide the nutrients in the amounts listed on the label, ensuring complete, balanced nutrition for healthy term infants.

Has Earth’s Best Organic® Soy Formula been discontinued?

Due to organic soy supply challenges, we recently reformulated our Earth’s Best® plant-based formula product for infants with dairy intolerances. We changed the source of soy protein from USDA certified organic soy to non GMO sourced soy. Our new product has the same nutritional profile as it did before and provides the same amount of soy protein for overall growth and development and DHA and ARA for brain and eye development. Look for Earth’s Best® Non-GMO Plant Based Formula in stores and online today.

What is the difference between Earth’s Best Organic® Infant Sensitivity® Formula and Earth’s Best Organic Gentle® Formula?

Both Earth’s Best Organic® Infant Sensitivity® and Gentle® Formulas are for babies with intolerance or sensitivity issues who exhibit signs of fussiness, gas and crying. Our Sensitivity formula is a reduced lactose formula with 95% less lactose as compared to standard milk-based formulas. Our Gentle formula contains easy-to-digest proteins including partially hydrolyzed whey. This formula is meant for infants having difficulty digesting proteins. It is the first organic gentle formula available. Both formulas meet FDA requirements for infant nutrition, contain no genetically modified ingredients, are made without prohibited synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, and are produced with milk from grass and grain fed cows not treated with artificial growth hormones or antibiotics.

Does the Soy Formula contain Gluten?

Our Earth’s Best Organic Soy Infant Formula doesn’t contain any gluten containing ingredients. Our

manufacturing facilities follow rigid allergen control programs and good manufacturing practices to prevent products coming into contact with allergens. You may wish to consult with your child’s health care provider regarding the use of this product and any dietary concerns.

Do your products contain brown rice syrup? Our Earth’s Best Organic® Infant Formulas do not contain brown rice syrup.

What is the purpose of corn syrup solids in your formula? For optimal growth and development, the FDA requires infant formulas to contain a certain mix of fats, and proteins as well as vitamins and minerals. Some babies are sensitive to lactose. Our Sensitivity Infant Formula has a reduced level of lactose which is replaced with easy-to-digest corn syrup solids. All Earth’s Best® organic infant formulas meet infant feeding requirements and are made without GMO ingredients.

Are the Earth’s Best® Organic Infant Formulas considered vegan? No, Earth’s Best® Organic Infant Formulas are not vegan.

INFANT FOODS

Why is my banana baby food pink?

Bananas can vary from yellowish-beige to pink in color. It is a natural variance after cooking and still perfectly safe for your child to consume.

Where do you source the ingredients used in your Earth’s Best® Organic Infant Cereals?

Our Earth’s Best® Organic Infant Cereals are currently manufactured at several manufacturing locations due to its high demand by consumers. Earth’s Best® Infant Cereals predominantly uses ingredients sourced domestically. Products manufactured in the US do not require Country of Origin Labeling.

I left jars/ pouches in the car in the cold and they froze/ ordered them online and they were left on my doorstep in the freezing cold, are they safe for my baby to eat?

Once the products leave our distribution centers, temperature changes in the winter months or in transit can cause some jars to freeze and then thaw, which can result in unusual product texture such as separation and a dry or spongy appearance. There is no food safety issue associated with this issue, however, we understand if you feel that the texture of the product does not meet the high quality that you have come to expect from us. If you have any further questions, please call us at 1-800-442-4221.

GENERAL FOOD

Where can I purchase your products? We encourage you to visit the “Find a Store” section of our website. There you can search for specific products in and around your zip code.

Are there any hormones or antibiotics in earth’s best chicken?

The chickens used in Earth’s Best® products are not administered antibiotics or hormones.

ORGANIC

Are all Earth’s Best products organic?

Earth’s Best® infant and toddler formulas, infant foods, Sesame Street products, and chicken fries are certified USDA organic (the one exception is Earth’s Best Sesame Street Cheddar Crackers). The cheddar crackers are made with organic ingredients. Some of our frozen products are not organic but are all natural and non-GMO.

Earth’s Best Organic Lawsuit | Toxic Heavy Metals

Brief Summary: In 2021, a Congressional subcommittee report found dangerously high amounts of arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury in Earth’s Best Organic baby food, and products from several other brands. According to the U.S. government, Hain Celestial, which manufactures products under the Earth’s Best Organic brand, knowingly sells baby foods loaded with toxic heavy metals linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Other brands have issued baby food recalls over heavy metals. As of this writing, however, there has not been an Earth’s Best Organic recall over heavy metals.

What We Are Saying: “The scientific literature is clear: numerous studies have found statistically significant links between exposure to heavy metals among young children and neurodevelopmental disorders, including ASD and ADHD. Our lawsuit alleges that Hain knows that the high levels of heavy metals in Earth’s Best Organic baby foods are harmful to babies and infants, in particular. Despite knowing about the dangers, the company continues to bury its head in the sand, refusing to take responsibility for harming children. We intend to hold them accountable for their reprehensible conduct and ensure they are punished for permanently damaging the wellbeing of our clients.” – Baby Food Lawyer Pedram Esfandiary

What You Can Do: Parents from across the country are making the decision to file an Earth’s Best Organic lawsuit to hold the manufacturer accountable for harming their child. If your son or daughter was diagnosed with autism or ADHD after consuming Hain Celestial baby food, you may be eligible to join an Earth’s Best Organic lawsuit to recover damages, including expensive therapies, loss of income, and other compensation. The baby food lawyers at Baum Hedlund have a case pending in California alleging Hain Celestial and several other companies knowingly sell products with dangerously high levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. Learn more below.

Earth’s Best Organic Baby Food Lawsuit Information

Who Owns Earth’s Best Organic?

Is Earth’s Best Organic Baby Food Safe?

Is Earth’s Best Organic Formula Safe?

Why are Heavy Metals Bad?

Why Are Heavy Metals in Earth’s Best Baby Food?

Which Hain Celestial Baby Foods Have Heavy Metals?

Is There an Earth’s Best Organic Recall?

Do I Qualify for an Earth’s Best Lawsuit Against Hain?

What is My Earth’s Best Organic Lawsuit Worth?

How Do I Pick the Best Baby Food Lawyer for My Case?

Hain Celestial Group, Inc. owns and sells baby food products under the Earth’s Best Organic brand. Brothers Ron Koss and Arnie Koss founded Earth’s Best Organic, one of the country’s first organic food companies, in 1985. Hain Celestial purchased Earth’s Best in 2000. Today, the company offers numerous food options, including Earth’s Best baby formula, baby food purees, pouches, and toddler foods ranging from organic infant cereal to organic snacks for toddlers and kids on the go.

No. Earth’s Best Organic baby foods contain dangerous amounts of arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury, according to a government report.

The U.S. House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, Committee on Oversight and Reform, published a report in February of 2021. Hain, the maker of Earth’s Best Organic formulas and baby foods, was one of only four brands to cooperate with the Subcommittee by submitting heavy metals testing results and internal policies.

The report, titled “Baby Foods Are Tainted with Dangerous Levels of Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium, and Mercury,” found arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury present in “significant levels” in numerous commercial baby food products, including Earth’s Best baby foods.

Per the report, Hain Celestial and other major baby food companies “knowingly” sell purees, infant rice cereal, and snack puffs that contain dangerous amounts of toxic metals, including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury.

Hain told government officials involved in the baby food report that the company only tests its ingredients, not finished baby food products. Nevertheless, documents show that Earth’s Best Organic ingredients tested at exceedingly high levels of:

Arsenic: Hain used ingredients that tested as high as 309 parts per billion (ppb) arsenic.

Lead: Hain used ingredients containing as much as 352 ppb lead. A total of 88 Earth’s Best Organic products tested over 20 ppb lead and six tested over 200 ppb lead.

Cadmium: Hain used 102 ingredients in its Earth’s Best Organic baby food products that tested over 20 ppb cadmium. Some tested much higher, up to 260 ppb cadmium.

Mercury: Hain does not even test for mercury in baby food. Independent testing from Happy Babies Bright Futures (HBBF) found Earth’s Best Organic baby foods contain as much as 2.4 ppb of mercury.

These levels are far more than the allowable limits for drinking water set by U.S. regulatory agencies. The U.S. FDA allowable limits for bottled water are 10 ppb inorganic arsenic, 5 ppb lead, and 5 ppb cadmium. The U.S. EPA allows 2 ppb mercury in drinking water.

It is important to remember that these limits were created in reference to adult exposure, not infants. Compared to these thresholds, the test results of Earth’s Best Organic baby foods are staggeringly greater than the permittable levels for drinking water.

Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the government baby food report is that Hain set internal limits for the presence of heavy metals that were dangerously high, and then routinely failed to abide by their own inadequate standards. For example, according to the government report, Hain set an internal standard of 200 ppb for arsenic, lead, and cadmium in some of its ingredients. Nevertheless, Hain routinely exceeded its internal policies, using ingredients containing 309 ppb arsenic and 353 ppb lead. Hain justified these deviations based on “theoretical calculations,” even after admitting to FDA that its testing underestimated final product toxic heavy metal levels.

The Subcommittee reported that Hain underestimates toxic heavy metal levels in Earth’s Best Organic baby foods 100% of the time. Additionally, the Subcommittee found that actual finished-product testing showed that arsenic levels were between 28% and 93% higher in the finished Earth’s Best products than Hain’s estimations for arsenic levels based on ingredient testing. Read more about baby foods to avoid in our blog.

“Hain’s recklessness and callous disregard for the health of young children is truly staggering. The company could have and should have made it a priority to source safer ingredients and carefully screen their products to ensure that kids are safe from harmful toxic metals. They instead decided that profit was more important. .” – Baby Food Lawyer Pedram Esfandiary

The government baby food report from 2021 did not implicate Earth’s Best formula products for high amounts of heavy metals. According to testing conducted by Happy Babies Bright Futures, the Earth’s Best Organic Sensitivity – DHR/ARA Infant Formula (Organic Milk-Based Powder with Iron) showed measurable heavy metal content (4. 4 ppb arsenic, 1.6 ppb lead, 1.4 ppb cadmium, and .2 ppb mercury) . The levels of heavy metals found in the Earth’s Best Organic formula were within the allowable levels for bottled water.

Babies and toddlers are small, so they absorb more heavy metals when compared to adults. Also, because their organs are still developing, their risk from exposure to heavy metals is exacerbated.

Children who are exposed to arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead run the risk of suffering from permanent decreases in IQ and decreases in future economic productivity. Heavy metals exposure at a young age can also lead to increased risk of future criminal and antisocial behavior.

Linda McCauley, who serves as the Dean of the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University, notes that “[n]o level of exposure to these metals has been shown to be safe in vulnerable infants.”

According to a 2014 study, babies and toddlers are “exceptionally sensitive to injury caused by toxic chemicals, and several developmental processes have been shown to be highly vulnerable to chemical toxicity. ” The same study reported that exposure to heavy metals in early childhood can lead to “untreatable and frequently permanent” brain damage, which may result in “reduced intelligence, as expressed in terms of lost IQ points, or disruption in behavior.”

Another study estimates that exposure to toxic metals is associated with over 40 million total IQ points loss in 25.5 million children, which translates to roughly 1.57 lost IQ points per child, more than preterm birth, brain tumors, and traumatic brain injury combined. It is estimated that a child’s lifetime earning capacity decreases by $18,000 for every IQ point lost.

In our baby food lawsuit against Earth’s Best Organic manufacturer Hain Celestial and other companies, we have four expert witnesses that prepared reports detailing the dangers of heavy metals for babies and infants. You can read the expert reports below:

Dr. Michael Aschner
Dr. Hannah Gardener
Dr. Beate Ritz
Dr. Kevin Shapiro

Manufacturers use questionable ingredients sourcing practices. Since the baby food report came out in 2021, baby food manufacturers have said repeatedly that heavy metals in baby foods are a byproduct of the manufacturing process. That is not the whole story, however, as evidenced by the fact that numerous baby food products on store shelves do not contain arsenic, lead, cadmium, or mercury that come close to the levels observed in the government report.

Companies are able to manufacture baby foods and eliminate or at least drastically reduce heavy metals by using alternative ingredients, not adding certain pre-mix minerals that have high levels of heavy metals, or sampling their ingredients from other sources.

In August 2019, Hain held a closed-door meeting with the FDA. During this meeting, Hain reportedly delivered a presentation to FDA officials acknowledging that heavy metals in baby food is a problem, and that the company should look for alternative ingredients to reduce the risk. In a series of PowerPoint slides presented during the meeting, Hain confirmed that some of the ingredients in Earth’s Best Organic baby foods contain between 108 to 129 ppb of arsenic. Hain specifically noted the following: “Preliminary investigation indicates Vitamin/Mineral Pre-Mix may be a major contributing factor.”

Another PowerPoint slide noted that the company should: “[e]xplore alternatives for Brown Rice ingredient to reduce risk.”

According to the U.S. government’s 2021 baby food report, Hain does not routinely test its finished baby food products for heavy metals. When the company did test small sample of finished product, Hain found 129 ppb inorganic arsenic in Earth’s Best baby food products.

While the company does not test its finished baby food products like snack puffs, purees, rice cereal, and others, Hain does test several ingredients used in Earth’s Best Organic foods. The baby food report found the following ingredients contained high levels of toxic metals:

Organic Brown Rice Flour – 309 ppb arsenic

Vitamin Pre-Mix – 223 ppb arsenic, 60.5 ppb cadmium, 352 ppb lead

Organic Whole Wheat Fine Flour – 160 ppb cadmium, 250 ppb lead

Organic Whole Raisins – 200 ppb arsenic

Organic Soft White Wheat Flour – 200 ppb arsenic

Organic Spelt Flour – 190 ppb arsenic

Organic Barley Malt Extract – 180 ppb arsenic

Organic Yellow Split Pea Powder – 160 ppb arsenic

Organic Barley Flour 120 ppb arsenic, 230 ppb lead

IQF Organic Chopped Broccoli – 250 ppb cadmium

Organic Oat Flakes – 130 ppb cadmium

Medium Grain Whole Rice – 150 ppb arsenic

Organic Butternut Squash Puree – 130 ppb arsenic

Organic Blueberry Puree – 120 ppb arsenic

Organic Barley Flour – 120 ppb arsenic

Organic Cinnamon Powder – 110 ppb arsenic, 200 ppb cadmium, 230 ppb lead

Organic Quick Oats – 230 ppb lead

Organic Date Paste – 190 ppb cadmium, 220 ppb lead

Organic Red Lentils – 130 ppb cadmium

Organic Brown Flax Milled – 190 ppb cadmium

Organic Yellow Papaya Puree – 170 ppb cadmium

As of June of 2022, there has not been an Earth’s Best Organic recall for baby food or baby formula due to heavy metals. The last Earth’s Best Organic recall was in 2007 when the company found that two product lines had been contaminated with clostridium botulinum, which can cause severe food poisoning.

Parents may be eligible to file a lawsuit against Hain Celestial, Inc. and/or other baby food companies if their child developed autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) after consuming substantial quantities of Earth’s Best Organic baby foods.

To join the Earth’s Best Organic lawsuit, the first thing a potential claimant needs to do is contact a baby food lawyer for a case evaluation. Most law firms taking on the baby food companies like Hain, Gerber, Walmart, and others offer free and confidential case evaluations.

At Baum Hedlund, our process for determining whether you qualify for an Earth’s Best lawsuit is very simple:

Call our office or fill out our contact form and one of our representatives will send you a case evaluation form to complete.
Fill out the baby food case evaluation. Our form takes most parents about 15 -20 minutes to complete.
Once we receive your case evaluation, our legal team reviews your potential case. If you meet the criteria, we will contact you to let you know that you qualify for a case. At that time, we can answer any questions you may have about filing a case.

This is a difficult question to answer. The value of a case is determined by a person’s claims for damages. Damages in an Earth’s Best Organic lawsuit (or lawsuits against other baby food companies listed in the 2021 government report) are calculated based on (among other things):

Money spent on health care bills related to your child’s diagnosis or diagnoses (this includes money already spent and future costs of care).
Loss of earnings if a parent has to stop work to take care of their child.
The injury, pain and suffering caused to the child and family.

Punitive damages against Hain Celestial and other baby food manufacturers may also be possible. Punitive damages—exemplary damages awarded at the court's discretion when a defendant’s actions are particularly harmful—can be worth several times more than the compensatory damages in a case.

As the parent of a child diagnosed with autism or ADHD (or both) you probably already know how expensive health care services can be. A lot of our clients have had to pay large out-of-pocket sums for occupational therapy, speech therapy, and other interventions. For some, these services are not covered by their health care insurance policy. In a lot of cases, these therapies are needed for many years.

Filing a lawsuit against Hain Celestial is your way of pursuing justice and compensation for these and other expenses. Our lawsuits allege parents never would have purchased Earth’s Best Organic baby foods if Hain had been truthful about the presence of dangerously high levels of cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic in baby food products.

Selecting the best lawyer for your case is an important decision to make. There are many variables that claimants should consider.

For starters, make sure any attorney you consider has the experience and resources necessary to win a case of this magnitude. Remember, you are going up against a large corporation that earns billions in revenue each year. A corporation of that size will have a formidable legal team to defend it and limit its financial exposure. Your lawyer needs to be up to the task of taking on a corporate giant and demonstrate that he or she has won cases of this magnitude.

Baum Hedlund has a proven track record in class actions and mass torts alleging consumer harm. In 2019, our firm and co-counsel won a $2.055 billion jury verdict in a lawsuit against Monsanto that alleged a defective consumer product caused our clients to develop cancer. After earning this historic verdict, our firm helped negotiate settlement agreements worth nearly $11 billion for thousands of people with similar claims.

Our record speaks for itself: we know what it takes to go up against large corporations and win.

Another key factor in deciding which lawyer is the best for your case: Anyone who represents your interests should be committed to sending a strong message to Hain Celestial and other baby food companies that failure to protect the health of young children comes with consequences. This case is not solely about earning maximum compensation, it is about using the law to improve food safety and prevent other children from suffering similar harm.

Baum Hedlund attorneys were among the first in the country to investigate this serious public health issue and pursue justice for the children harmed by toxic heavy metals in baby food. As of June 2022, our law firm represents over 1,000 children from across the U.S. We filed the first baby food lawsuit in California last year on behalf of a child named Noah who developed ASD and ADHD after consuming Earth’s Best Organic baby foods, among other brands.

On May 24, 2022, the judge overseeing Noah’s case issued a ruling in our favor that not only allows his case to proceed to trial, but it also sets the stage for a massive legal battle between thousands of children like Noah and baby food companies like Hain Celestial.

You can learn more about Noah’s case and the baby food litigation in this episode of Spotlight on America, an award-winning investigative news program airing on 90+ TV stations across the country. The program includes background on Noah Cantabrana’s case as well as interviews with Noah’s mother, Melissa Cantabrana, and Baum Hedlund baby food lawyer Pedram Esfandiary.

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Goods with a quality mark

Black list

The ideal baby food up to 6 months is breast milk, but if it is not possible to feed the baby with mother's milk, then mixtures that are sold in stores come to the rescue. When choosing a ready-made mixture, follow the rule: the closer the mixture is to breast milk in composition, the better.
All formulas are thoroughly tested before entering the store, so they are all safe, which cannot be said about homemade food. But their price may differ, depending on how high-quality and modern the mixture is.
More modern formulas usually contain ingredients that have only recently been proven useful by science (for example, lutein). But this does not mean that traditional mixtures that do not contain this substance should be abandoned.
From 6-7 months, the baby begins to receive complementary foods, and by 8-9 months, the proportion of mixtures in the child's diet is reduced to 50%, and the rest falls on fruit and vegetable puree, dairy-free cereals from ground cereals that do not contain gluten. At the second stage of complementary foods, meat puree can be introduced into the diet. It is not recommended to give juices to children under 1.5 years old.
Children under 1 year of age should not drink tea. It is better to boil baby water before drinking.
Starting from the age of 1, the baby can eat cottage cheese and other unsweetened fermented milk products. You need to be careful with yogurt: it may contain sugar, which is not recommended for children at this age. Kefir should be excluded from the diet of preschoolers, as it is highly acidic and may contain alcohol. Powdered milk for a baby can only be used as part of baking or in case of emergency.
Sugar and salt are generally recommended to be excluded from the baby's menu until at least 3 years old. Caution should be given to the child honey - it can cause allergies.
Do not allow children to eat foods intended for adults. Sausages and sausages are not baby food. They may contain phosphates, preservatives, and too much salt and sugar, which is harmful to the baby.

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ranking of the top 10 Russian and foreign brands with reviews according to KP

Products for children are always under special quality control. Including food. After all, food for a baby is not only a way to satisfy hunger, but also acquaintance with different tastes and a guarantee of healthy development (1). Today there are many different brands. Among them, we selected the best manufacturers of baby food, based on the reviews of parents and expert opinions.

Rating of the top 5 Russian baby food manufacturers according to KP

There are many popular brands among Russian baby food manufacturers. Basically, various purees, juices, cereals and dairy products are presented on the market. There are also formulas for babies, but in smaller quantities. The popularity of food is due to high quality and rather low (in comparison with foreign analogues) price.

1. Agusha

Agusha. Photo: yandex.market.ru

Agusha is one of the most popular baby food manufacturers in Russia. The trademark appeared in 1992 and has a wide range of products for children of all ages. Newborns are offered powdered milk formulas, babies from 4 months - a variety of purees, sour-milk products, water, older children - ready-made cereals (both dairy and non-dairy), juices, fruit drinks, compotes and fruit bars for a snack.

Due to the availability and variety of products, the manufacturer is confidently holding onto the Russian market. The safety and quality of Agushi is also confirmed by some neutral studies. For example, fruit cottage cheese, as well as kefir from this brand, received the highest rating from Roskachestvo (2, 3).

There are mixtures in the product line; a wide range of.

High price for some items.

2. FrutoNyanya

FrutoNyanya. Photo: yandex.market.ru

FrutoNyanya baby food brand products are distinguished by a wide range and wide distribution in stores. Among the products of the brand you can find: a variety of cereals (with additives in the form, for example, pieces of fruit or without them), vegetable, fruit and meat purees, water, dairy products, juices, fruit drinks and nectars, snacks. For children prone to acute reactions to certain products, a special line of hypoallergenic food is offered.

Some of the brand's products have received high ratings from Russian quality, such as biocurd, buckwheat porridge (4, 5).

Nutrition from this brand is designed for both the first complementary foods and for babies after a year. The composition contains salt and sugar, which are not recommended for children under one year old.

Main characteristics

Producer	Progress
Assortment	purees, drinks, soups, snacks, cereals, snacks, water
Recommended age	from 0 months
Founded	2000

Pros and cons

There are hypoallergenic products.

May contain allergenic ingredients (eg sugar).

3. "Grandmother's Lukoshko"

"Grandmother's Lukoshko". Photo: yandex.market.ru

The manufacturer has been present on the Russian market since 1999. The main product is a variety of purees, which are available in glass jars and soft packs. For example, apple puree from this brand received the highest rating from Roskachestvo in all analysis criteria and was awarded the Quality Mark (6).

Older children are offered ready meals, meatballs, healthy snacks in the form of fruit lozenges and biscuits. Also, "Babushkino Lukoshko" produces children's herbal teas. Salt in some products is not always welcomed by parents.

The main characteristics

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Manufacturer	"SIVMA"
Assortment	puree, finished dinners, drinks, fruit pastilles
from 4 months
Founded	1999

Pros and cons

Relatively low price in the segment; varied products.

There may be undesirable auxiliary components in the formulation (eg salt).

4. "Subject"

"Subject". Photo: yandex.market.ru

"Theme" offers products for children from 4 months to 3 years. The assortment includes a variety of meat, fish and vegetable purees, dairy products, ready meals and juices. But fruit purees are not presented. Packaging 一 is one of the distinguishing features of the brand. Thanks to special tin cans, the products are reliably protected from sunlight, which prolongs the shelf life. Also, many products of the brand are available in non-spill packages, so it is convenient to take them with you on the road. According to the results of the research, cottage cheese and juice "Theme" received the highest rating from Roskachestvo (7, 8).

5. Diaper

Diaper. Photo: market.yandex.ru

All ingredients for production are supplied from our own farm. The manufacturer claims that thanks to this, it is possible to set fairly low prices for products.

Potential buyers are offered fruit and vegetable purees (some with cottage cheese), soups, various juices and fruit drinks, as well as water. Some of the products are hypoallergenic. The composition does not contain unnecessary components: salt, sugar and preservatives. Meat and fish products are not represented in the product line.

Rating of the top 5 foreign manufacturers of baby food according to KP

There are many foreign companies that produce baby food on the Russian market. A century of history, many years of experience and a good reputation helps to supply the market with quality products, which are preferred by many parents.

1. Gerber

Gerber. Photo: yandex.market.ru

The assortment of the American manufacturer includes products for children from 4 months. In supermarkets and online sites, you can find vegetable and fruit purees, cereals, healthy snacks, juices, and desserts (cottage cheese treats, smoothies, and others). Hypoallergenic food is also provided. For example, dairy-free buckwheat porridge of this brand is highly appreciated by Roskachestvo experts, who noted the safe composition of the product without dangerous and harmful substances, including no added sugars ( Founded 1927

Pros and cons

Hypoallergenic products; natural composition; high quality.

High price in the baby food segment.

2. HiPP

HiPP. Photo: yandex.market.ru

German manufacturer's products are suitable for children from birth. Infants are offered hypoallergenic powdered milk formulas enriched with vitamins. For feeding - various purees, cream soups, cereals, and as a snack for older children - snacks and dairy desserts. Country of origin Germany Year founded 1957

Pros and cons

Natural composition; There are baby formulas in the assortment.

High price of products.

3. Fleur Alpine

Fleur Alpine. Photo: yandex.market.ru

Natural baby food of premium quality. The assortment includes purees, cereals, cookies and juices - both regular and for children prone to allergies or gluten intolerance. In addition to the usual products, the manufacturer offers olive oil (from 6 months) and sauces (from 3 years).

From time to time, the products of this brand come under the attention of experts from Roskachestvo and Roskontrol. For example, Three cereals porridge showed excellent results: a good composition with dietary fiber and no foreign impurities, the appropriate taste, color and smell (10), and buckwheat porridge meets the advanced standards of Roskachestvo, except for the increased protein content (11).

Not all products on the official website can be purchased in a regular store. However, they can be purchased on marketplaces.

High price; Not all brand products are easy to find on offline sites.

4. Semper

Semper. Photo: yandex.market.ru

The Swedish company offers a wide range of products for children of all ages. Dry milk formulas are suitable for newborns, and there are even specialized ones that are best used for constipation. Some of them are designed for babies older than six months. For crumbs older than 4 months, the manufacturer offers a variety of vegetable, meat, fish and fruit purees, cereals, juices and children's tea with vitamins. In addition to the usual products for children, there are wellings — oatmeal and multi-cereal porridges with natural additives, cookies, and meatballs. Country of origin Sweden Founded 1963

Pros and cons

There are mixes in the product line interesting combinations of flavors.

High price in the segment; the presence of starch in the puree; the product according to BJU may differ from that stated on the package.

5. Heinz

Heinz. Photo: yandex.market.ru

American food company offers a wide range of products at affordable prices. There are fruit, vegetable and meat purees, cereals (dairy and non-dairy), soups and drinks. As a healthy snack for babies from 5 months, special cookies are suitable, and fruit and cream puddings will be a great dessert for older children. You can also find a special vermicelli that will suit crumbs from 6 months. The manufacturer's porridges received the highest rating from Roskachestvo (13). However, some products contain sugar and starch, which many parents of babies do not approve of.

Some products contain sugar and starch.

How to choose the right baby food

A child's menu may differ from another baby's diet, not only due to age, but also due to health conditions (for example, a tendency to constipation or a dairy allergy) and personal preferences. However, the first thing to consider is age. It’s also important to keep in mind that your baby’s diet should be free of added salt and sugar (14). Certain positions deserve some explanation.

Milk formulas

Designed for feeding babies. In fact, they are designed to become an alternative to mother's milk. For the full development of the crumbs, it is necessary that vitamins and trace elements are present in the composition.

Canned puree

Introduced from 4 months. There are fruit, vegetable, meat and fish options. Combinations are also possible. For the first feeding, it is recommended to choose one-component purees from vegetables or fruits.

Porridges

Porridges, as well as mashed potatoes, are recommended to be offered to a baby from 4 months. Thanks to the special processing of cereals, baby porridge is easily boiled, which significantly saves cooking time.

Nectars, juices

You can give your baby juice or nectar from the age of 4 months. As long as it doesn't contain sugar. If available, it is better to wait at least up to 1 year.

Reviews of doctors about manufacturers of baby food

一 Baby food is becoming an object of special attention on the part of the state and parents, 一 says pediatrician Ekaterina Mikhaltsova . - The main advantages of industrial products and dishes are ease of use, balanced composition and minimal cooking time. However, you must strictly follow the age recommendations and cooking rules indicated on the labels.

- Dairy products and baby food in particular are complex production products where quality control is essential at all stages. Therefore, it is better to trust large manufacturers, - explains sanitary doctor Nikolai Dubinin . - It is important to pay attention to the composition and, before offering the child, taste the food yourself. In general, doctors agree that commercially produced baby food is no worse than home-cooked. And some are even better, due to supplements in the form of vitamins and trace elements.