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First Food Singles Thinner single ingredient puree (6+M)
Graduated Singles Thicker single ingredient puree (6+M)
Duos Two ingredient puree (7+M)
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Mashables Textured multi ingredient puree (9+M)
PINCHABLES, FINGER FOODS, AND SNACKS
Pinchables Small pieces of whole food (10+M)
Bites Nutrient-dense bites (11+M)
Snacks
On-the-go snacks
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60% of your baby’s caloric intake is used for Brain Development.
By age 2, 80% of the adult brain is formed.
Early exposure to lots of texture and tastes can instill a love for healthy foods.
Our signature Yumi Milestone Plan is rich in nutrients for brain development and is designed to introduce your baby to the right ingredients at the right time.
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Parents usually ask...
That sounds great! Is it worth it?
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Yumi is absolutely worth it. The nutrition, flavors and variety, and convenience are among the top reasons we hear from Yumi users. But let’s dig into this a little more because, we know that parents have many options when it comes to baby food, from store-bought to making their own.
Do organic ingredients matter for babies?
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How does Yumi address allergens?
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7 Ridiculously Expensive Baby Foods Fit for Beyonce's Twins
LifestyleWe know she puts her love(ly babies) on top.
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As we all know, Beyoncé gave birth this past week to twins, and I'm supremely jealous of those babies. Their parents are relationship goals, and Blue Ivy is probably the best older sister this world has ever seen. I'm expecting these twins to have a pretty lit upbringing, starting with their baby food.
I'm obviously not friends with Beyoncé, so I don't know what she's feeding the newborns, but I have some speculations. Beyonce has been known to have a vegan, dairy-free, soy-free and gluten-free diet (along with the occasional cheat day). And remember the 22Days Challenge, a vegan meal plan Jay-Z created with the couple's trainer back in 2013? I'm guessing these babes are going to be raised probably vegan, with little sugar or processed foods in their diets.
So check out these bougie-ass baby foods that are fit for royalty, or you know, Beyoncé's children — same thing.
Nourish Baby (Subscription Service)
Price: $120/week
Beyoncé is kinda busy, so understandably, she might not have time to cook for her babies. Nourish Baby is the perfect alternative, with all-organic, GMO-free meals perfect for these budding babes.
On a side note, the child pictured above is drinking coconut and hemp-seed milk, which is legit something I'm not sure I could not stomach as a 20-year-old, nonetheless as an infant. But kudos to this kiddo!
Annabel Karmel (Jars)
Price: $19/jar
Annabel Karmel's baby food has gotten the actual royal seal of approval: Queen Elizabeth honored Karmel as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2006.
If that's not enough for Queen Bey, I don't know what is.
Tummy Thyme (Food Delivery)
Price: $48 for tester kit (12 meals)
I don't really get why this food is so expensive. Tummy Thyme is delivered in frozen cubes that have to be defrosted overnight, but Gwyneth Paltrow likes it, so it must be healthy at least.
So Good Baby (Pouches)
Price: $3 per pouch
For So Good Baby food, you are paying $3 for 60 calories of produce. Literally, why? I guess it might be worth it if you don't want your child to eat gluten, dairy, or soy. No shame on people who follow these diets themselves (like um, Bey), but anyone could probably make these blended produce meals at home for half of the cost.
Raised Real (Food Delivery)
Price: $4.
75/meal + Cost of Raised Real Machine
Raised Real food is all prepped for you, and it looks gourmet af. All food is flash frozen at peak freshness so that your tot gets the best of the best, which is exactly what Bey and Jay want for their little bundles of joy.
Yummy Spoonfuls (Pouches)
Price: $2.29/pouch
Co-founded by Camila Alves, Yummy Spoonfuls works hard to provide single-ingredient, organic, non-GMO pouches. Also, it's relatively reasonable in price compared to some of these other options, so Bey can use them if she wants to be a bit thrifty.
Liv Healthy Baby
Price: $6/jar or $132 for a week's worth of meals for babies ages 10 months+
Get your baby's food delivered straight to your door by Newport Beach's Liv Healthy Baby.
The offerings are pretty generic (think pureed fruits and veggies), but the bougieness rating is off the charts with it's glass jar and twine packaging.
Whether Beyoncé chooses juice, frozen, or pouched foods, I'm sure these babies are going to be pampered. She is the queen and these twins are royalty, so bow down bitches.
Stupid Nostalgic Health Pop Culture
rating of the top 10 Russian and foreign brands with reviews according to KP
Goods 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 manufacturers of baby food.
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.
Agusha
Agusha. Photo: yandex.market.ruAgusha is one of the most popular manufacturers of baby food 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.
Thanks 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).
However, some parents are confused by the rather high price of certain items.
The main characteristics
| Manufacturer | Pepsico Russia | |||
| Assortment | puree, dried milk mixtures, cereals, fruit bars | Recommended age | C Founded | 1992 |
Pros and cons
There are mixtures in the product line; a wide range of.
High price for some items.
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 Roskachestvo, for example, 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
| Manufacturer | Progress |
| Assortment | purees, drinks, soups, snacks, cereals, snacks, water |
| Recommended age | from 0 months |
| Founded | 2000 |
Pros and cons
May contain allergenic ingredients (eg sugar).
Grandmother's Basket
Grandmother's Basket. 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).
For older children, prepared meals, meatballs, healthy snacks such as fruit lozenges and biscuits are available. Also, "Babushkino Lukoshko" produces children's herbal teas. Salt in some products is not always welcomed by parents.
Main characteristics
| Manufacturer | "Sivma" |
| Assortment | puree, finished lunch, drinks, fruit stucks |
| Recommended age | 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).
"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).
The main characteristics
| Manufacturer | "Danon Russia" |
| Assortment | puree, dairy products |
Pros and cons
Innovative packaging; high meat content.
There are no fruit products in the assortment.
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.
The potential buyer is 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.
Main characteristics
| Manufacturer | "Gardens Podonya" | |||
| Assortment | puree, cream-soups, porridge | |||
| Recommended age | Site | from 4 months | S. | 2005 |
Pros and cons
Low price in the segment; simple and clear structure.
Lack of meat and fish products in the assortment.
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.
Gerber
Gerber. Photo: yandex.market.ruThe 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 (9).
The manufacturer claims that the high prices are due to the corresponding quality, which is ensured by strict standards and adherence to technology.
Main characteristics
| Manufacturer | Nestle |
| Assortment | pure, Joks, snacks, desserts | SECULATION OF THE |
| Founded | 1927 |
Pros and cons
Hypoallergenic products; natural composition; high quality.
High price in the baby food segment.
HiPP
HiPP. Photo: yandex.market.ruGerman 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.
Meals are made exclusively from natural ingredients, without added sugar. The high price, according to the manufacturer, is due to the use of special technologies and high-quality products.
Main characteristics
| Manufacturer | HIPP |
| Assortment | puree, cereals, drinks, snacks, dry dairy mixtures |
| Recommended age | 9 months 9 months 9 months 9.0025|
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Founded | 1957 |
Pros and cons
Natural composition; There are baby formulas in the assortment.
High price of products.
Fleur Alpine
Fleur Alpine. Photo: yandex.market.ruNatural baby food of premium quality. The range includes purees, cereals, cookies and juices - both regular and for children prone to allergies or intolerant to gluten. 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.
Semper
Semper. Photo: yandex.market.ruThe 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.
Roskachestvo examined this brand's applesauce and, apart from its high carbohydrate content (higher than indicated on the packaging), found no drawbacks (12). In addition, some purees contain starch.
The main characteristics
| Manufacturer | Hero Group |
| Assortment | Military mixtures, purers, porridge, drinks, cookies |
| Recommended age | 9 months0025|
| Country of origin | Sweden |
| Founded | 1963 |
Pros and cons
There are mixtures 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.
Heinz
Heinz. Photo: yandex.market.ruAmerican 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.
The main characteristics
| Manufacturer | Heinz |
| Assortment | puree, soups, vermichel, pudding, cookies, tea |
| Recommended age | 9 months with 4 months with 4 months .USA |
| Year of Manufacture | 1869 |
Pros and Cons
Product contains prebiotics; affordable price in the segment of baby food from foreign manufacturers.
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 babies under one year of age should be free of salt and sugar additives (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.
Popular questions and answers
We answer the most common questions about baby food together with pediatrician Ekaterina Mikhaltsova and sanitary doctor, epidemiologist Nikolai Dubinin.
How to choose food for the first feeding?
Pediatricians recommend starting the first complementary foods with vegetable puree. Fruits contain a large amount of fructose, which can irritate the lining of the stomach and other organs of the gastrointestinal tract.
Of course, the parent himself can boil and grind vegetables to a puree-like consistency, but it is easier to purchase products in the store, since baby food is made in compliance with special technologies, taking into account all the rules and regulations.
Another question is how to choose a brand among such a variety of baby foods. The best solution is to stick with a well-known brand. Large companies care about their reputation, and therefore strictly follow all established quality standards and do not violate production technology.
The next step is to study the information on the label, make sure the quality, evaluate the following indicators:
• Natural composition. Preservatives, salt, sugar and other ingredients should not be present in the composition (at least in products for children under 1 year old).
• Consistency (grinding quality). A good puree should be smooth and without lumps.
• Multi or single ingredient .
The first puree should contain only one ingredient. The child should get used to a certain vegetable, after which it will be possible to introduce others, adding each one in turn, so that the baby gets used to everything separately.
• Hypoallergenic product. Formula must not contain ingredients that can cause an allergic reaction.
• Package integrity . It is important to inspect the container in detail for dents, scratches or cracks (chips). Tightness must be observed. Don't forget to check the production date.
• Appropriate for the age of the child . The age for which this or that product is designed is usually indicated on the packaging in compliance with the recommendations of pediatricians.
When all these factors are taken into account, it can be said that the product is really suitable for the child and will not cause side effects (15).
Which of the Russian manufacturers should I pay attention to?
Baby food brand Agusha has been producing products for over 30 years.
The assortment has everything you need for a complete diet for kids: dairy products, cereals, fruit, vegetable and meat purees, juices and compotes. The company produces safe, hypoallergenic, complete nutrition for children of all ages. High-quality substitutes for breast milk and subsequent complementary foods are also produced. It is also recommended to pay attention to the manufacturers "FrutoNyanya" and "Theme".
What composition should healthy baby food contain?
When choosing puree in jars, pay attention to the composition. The ingredients should be natural, a good option (especially for younger kids) if the puree is a one-component puree - a fruit or vegetable plus water. Please note that the product does not contain salt, flour, starch, dyes and preservatives, and is not too diluted with water. The vegetable itself may contain starch, but its additional additives are very undesirable.
Sources
- Once again about baby food.
Ladodo K. S. 2003. - Roskachestvo rating. Children's cottage cheese "Agusha". URL: https://rskrf.ru/goods/tvorog-detskiy-fruktovyy-agusha-multifruktovyy-s-massovoy-doley-zhira-3-9/
- Roskachestvo rating. Children's kefir "Agusha". URL: https://rskrf.ru/goods/kefir-agusha-s-massovoy-doley-zhira-3-2-dlya-pitaniya-detey-starshe-8-mesyatsev/
- Roskachestvo rating. Biocurd "FrutoNyanya". URL: https://rskrf.ru/goods/biotvorog-frutonyanya-yabloko-obogashchennyy-vitaminom-d3-s-massovoy-doley-zhira-4-2-dlya-pitaniya-d/
- Roskachestvo rating. Buckwheat porridge "FrutoNyanya". URL: https://rskrf.ru/goods/frutonyanya-pervyy-vybor-grechnevaya-kasha/
- Roskachestvo rating. Apple puree "Babushkino Lukoshko" URL: https://rskrf.ru/goods/pyure-fruktovoe-gomogenizirovannoe-sterilizovannoe-dlya-pitaniya-detey-rannego-vozrasta-s-4-mesyatse/
- Roskachestvo rating. Biocurd "Theme". URL: https://rskrf.ru/goods/biotvorog-tyema-obogashchennyy-bifidobakteriyami-s-grushey-dlya-detskogo-pitaniya-massovaya-dolya-zh/
- Roskachestvo rating.
Apple juice "Theme". URL: https://rskrf.ru/goods/sok-yablochnyy-vostanovlennyy-osvetlennyy-dlya-detskogo-pitaniya/ - Roskachestvo rating. Buckwheat porridge Gerber. URL: https://rskrf.ru/goods/bezmolochnaya-kasha-gerber-grechnevaya/
- Roskachestvo rating. Porridge "Three cereals" Fleur Alpine. URL: https://rskrf.ru/goods/kasha-fleur-alpine-tri-zlaka-/
- Roskachestvo rating. Buckwheat porridge Fleur Alpine. URL: https://rskrf.ru/goods/kasha-grechnevaya-gipoallergennaya-fleur-alpine/
- Roskachestvo rating. Applesauce Semper. URL: https://rskrf.ru/goods/pyure-iz-yablok-fruktovoe-sterilizovannoe-dlya-detskogo-pitaniya-s-4-mesyatsev-semper/
- Roskachestvo rating. Buckwheat porridge Heinz. URL: https://rskrf.ru/goods/grechnevaya-kashka-heinz-bezmolochnaya-nizkoallergennaya/
- Baby food safety. Zakharova I.N., Aisanova M.R. 2019.
- Classification of baby food products, requirements for their quality and safety. Georgieva O.V.
, Pyrieva E.A., Kon I.Ya. 2018.
All the secrets of baby food production
What do you think about when choosing baby food for your child? Do you remember the advertising slogans you heard on TV and study the price tags? Or consider the composition of the product and look for the expiration date on the jar? Do you pay attention to the content of vitamins and nutrients?
Most likely, any caring mother will think 100 times about what she feeds her child, what she buys for him and whether it is possible to trust the health of her baby to one or another manufacturer. But what do you know about those whose logo is indicated on a jar of baby food, about the ingredients that are contained inside.
At the invitation of one of the well-known manufacturers of baby food, HIPP, the editor of Passion.ru went on a journey to understand the specifics of the production of baby food, to find out what methods and features of the production of this product can guarantee the safety of your baby.
Where baby food is produced
When we arrived at the company's plant in Mamonovo in the Kaliningrad region, to be honest, we expected to see an ordinary gray noisy plant, which is many in our country, but it turned out to be an example of a real German clean, efficient and perfectly organized enterprise, where The most modern equipment produces food products under the supervision of highly qualified employees.
This HIPP baby food plant was opened in September 2009 in the city and became the first and only bio-organic production in Russia. The plant itself, a warehouse, an office, a production and microbiological laboratory, as well as modern Biomar® treatment facilities, autonomous water supply and water treatment systems are located on an area of 35 hectares.
Now the capacity of the production line of the plant in Mamonovo is 50 million jars per year, when working in one shift. The range of baby food products from vegetables, fruits, meat and juices in glass containers includes more than 100 items.
Before entering the workshop, we were asked to remove all jewelry and leave all personal belongings so that none of our items would end up in production. Putting on a special uniform and shoe covers, we set off to reveal all the secrets of baby food production.
What products are made of
Not even a single high-tech enterprise can make a good product from bad raw materials. The quality of raw materials in the production of baby food is of course of paramount importance, but for HIPP, simply high quality raw materials are not enough. For 50 years, great importance has been attached here to the fact that products are grown according to the principles of bio-organic farming.
Our inspection began just from the premises where the raw materials for production are located - these are meat, fruits and vegetables in barrels (special aseptic packaging) from regular suppliers from Europe and Russia. Part of the potatoes and carrots for production is grown here, in the Kaliningrad region, but completely according to the same principles of bioorganic farming.
In the summer of 2010, the company was certified for the right to produce products with the BIO mark.
260 ways to check the quality of baby food
After examining the area for receiving and unpacking raw materials, we found out that all raw materials and ready-made baby food at the plant go through more than 260 checks before reaching the consumer. HIPP specialists strive to control absolutely the entire process and its components: from the quality of the soil and air on which vegetables, fruits and herbs grow, to the contents of each jar.
In addition, by the number that is applied to the lid of each jar, you can not only determine when and by whom this or that batch was produced, but also trace the origin of the raw materials for each particular jar.
The production manager showed us an example of checking the tightness of finished jars. He removed one jar from the conveyor, opened it and closed it again, already on the next meter of the conveyor belt there was an apparatus that controlled the tightness of the package and the opened jar was thrown off the belt by the machine.
Well, the most stringent control of products, of course, takes place within the walls of the local laboratory.
HIPP's laboratory is considered one of the best in Europe for the analysis of trace pollutants. Experts are able to detect about 800 possible residues of harmful substances, and in such small doses that even a grain of salt in a 50-meter pool will not hide from the keen eye of experts.
We visited one of these laboratories at the end. The most interesting thing was to ask the Laboratory Manager if they had any rejection cases at the plant at the final stages of control. We were assured that this did not happen, although, of course, specialists do not lower their vigilance from this and every day dozens of times a day they check the products of each type and from each batch that are being prepared for shipment to stores.
By the way, before it goes to its small customers, finished products spend another 2-3 weeks in the quarantine zone. The laboratory became the final point of our tour of the plant, after which we went to the neighboring country, Poland, to see where and under what conditions raw materials for production grow.
In Poland, we arrived at the village of Podongy (Podangen) in the Elblag county, near the larger Polish city of Orneta. This region has many fields and a farm owned by HIPP. There we were met by Mr. Stefan Hipp, who heads the company now. By the way, he represents the fourth generation of Hippies employed in this family business.
The first experiments with baby food were made back in 1899 by his great-grandfather, a confectioner, who, when he became a father, decided to come up with something for his baby when his wife had difficulties with feeding. And Josef Hipp mixed crackers, milk and water in a good proportion, making a kind of mixture that soon became the leader in the baby food market in Germany.
After an introductory lecture by Mr. Stefan Hipp on soil life and the basic principles of bio-organic farming, we learned that many agricultural myths have no basis and have long been debunked. Until now, many believe in the myth that growing vegetables without any chemical fertilizers is unsafe, risky and too expensive, because the crop can be easily vulnerable to any cataclysms, insects and diseases.
There is also a myth about the laboriousness and unprofitability of bioorganic farming. Many believe that in regions with a pronounced seasonality it is impossible to maintain a stable level of yield without chemicals and fertilizers. It has now been scientifically proven that this is not the case. According to Mr. Hipp, even the Aztecs managed to feed 15 people from 1 hectare of land, while in the modern USA, even with the use of modern fertilizers, it is possible to feed one person from 1 hectare. Which completely dispels the myth about the low efficiency and unprofitability of bioorganic farming.
We were told about the importance of rest for the soil, about the role of worms in a square meter of soil and about the life of humus, which, by the way, grows from top to bottom, as well as Muller's humus theory. In general, by the end of the lecture, we already understood how laborious, highly scientific and painstaking this process really is, aimed at satisfying the interests of not only us, people, as consumers, but also preserving the integrity of nature, maintaining soil fertility.
In a nutshell, the basic principles of organic farming are as follows:
- raw materials must be grown only in ecologically clean areas, without the addition of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and growth regulators;
- only physical and biological methods are used for pest control;
- in animal husbandry, natural feeds are used without appetite stimulants, antibiotics and growth stimulants, and stress-free methods of keeping and transporting animals are chosen;
- excluded the use of genetically modified products;
- during the final processing it is forbidden to add artificial food additives, refine and mineralize the product.
So, after the introductory course of the novice farmer, we went to the fields and farms themselves. The first field came as a surprise to us, as the clover crop thrived on it. Mr. Hipp told us that this field is now “resting”, as every 5 years the fields are sown with clover, so that the nitrogen level is restored in them and the soil is loosened, and at the same time to feed the cows.
Back in the 19th century, the German scientist Justus von Liebig discovered the presence of nitrogen in the soil and proved its importance for agriculture. The best supplier of nitrogen to the soil is just clover. I note that the clover was almost knee-deep, which suggested that apparently clover is grown here with fertilizers and chemicals. But Mr. Hipp explained that this is a normal-sized clover that has grown in healthy soil and an ecologically clean environment.
Next we visited the fields with rye and wheat, which are used for making porridge. Here, Mr. Hipp proudly showed us his ideal flexible ears, telling us that there had been a strong storm the day before, and the ears were not damaged, because again they grow on healthy soil.
Next we visited the most interesting fields with potatoes and carrots. Naturally, the first question in the field with potatoes was “how do you deal with the Colorado potato beetle?” After all, many of us spent the summer removing these insects from potatoes in our summer cottages.
Mr. Hipp told us that a mixture of water and oil from the neem tree is used to spray the bushes. That's the whole secret!
In addition, we noticed that around the field with potatoes there is a strip of several meters with daisies, but they are not considered weeds. As Mr. Hipp told us, if nature wants to regain a couple of meters for flowers, there is no need to fight it, there is nothing wrong with that. When we moved to a field with carrots and was asked how the pests of this crop are dealt with, we were told that we can successfully fight the carrot fly by planting one row of onions every 5 rows.
Bio-organic animal husbandry
Near the fields is the HIPP farm and pastures for 700 sheep and 300 black angus cows. By the way, this Black Angus breed is considered the most prestigious in animal husbandry.
If you try to find out on the Internet or ask in a restaurant how much a black angus steak costs, the price will surely shock you, and you will be genuinely surprised to learn that this is the elite meat grown in an ecologically clean region and on bio-organic feed , used for the production of baby food.
So if you want to raise your child to be a foodie with good taste and the ability to tell good food from bad food, you know what baby food to look for in the store. Just try not to think that these bulls are real cuties and are distinguished by a calm disposition and a curious character. They surrounded our group, coming very close and showing off their shiny black skins. Among them, like guards, walked the same fearless storks - living proof of the ecological cleanliness of the region, because storks do not live in polluted areas.
Celebrity Organic Moms
By the end of our trip, we had no doubts that HIPP's strict bio-organic principles are followed extremely strictly in the production of HIPP baby food, from the soil to the moment it reaches you. And it became completely clear to us why many parents are now becoming "eco-mommies", choosing products for their children produced on the principles of bioorganic production. After all, we all want the best for our children and try to choose the best foods for their nutrition and the safest.
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