Non gmo baby food
The Best Organic Baby Foods of 2022
Feeding
written by JACLYN VORAN
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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.
Our Favorite Organic Baby Food Brands
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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- and fitness-related content, testing and evaluation.
How to choose baby food without GMOs
— Anastasia Ivanovna, what are GMOs in baby food and why are they needed?
— In genetically modified organisms (abbreviated as GMOs), genetic information is changed in a special way - certain genes are included or excluded. As a result of genetic engineering, living objects are obtained that do not exist in nature. Mostly we are talking about plants and animals. The World Health Organization defines GMOs as all organisms in which the DNA has been altered.
The goals of genetic engineering were originally good - growing new varieties of cereals and vegetables that will be stored for a long time or look good, contain more vitamins.
Since June 2016, there has been a ban on the production and cultivation of genetically modified foods in Russia, and the import of GMOs from other countries has also been banned.
— Why are GMOs scary and are mixtures, purees and cereals with GMOs dangerous for children?
- Gene modification is confused with a gene mutation, which everyone is afraid of as changes in the cells of the body at the genetic level. Therefore, all infant formulas, cereals, mashed potatoes with GMOs are considered dangerous and they try to limit or exclude their use. No one will risk the health of children.
Parents also fear that GMOs will cause allergies or gastrointestinal problems. Essentially, any food can be an allergen, and whether an allergy would correlate with GMOs is not always clear.
Digestive problems in babies are more related to the diet and day.
Myth 1. Genetically modified foods are everywhere.
— Genetic engineering is a rather expensive process, which is more often used for medical purposes, molecular genetics. If there were GMO products on sale, they would be labeled. In addition, Rospotrebnadzor regularly examines product samples, and you can be calm about baby food.
Myth 2. If you eat a lot of genetically modified food, you will become a mutant.
— Not all GM foods affect our bodies. If you believe this myth, then any potato or cucumber can give a mutation.
Myth 3. GMOs are poison, and non-GMOs are healthy.
Also delusion. On the one hand, genetic modification is confused with mutation, on the other hand, the intrigues of advertisers and marketing tricks are tangible.
Myth 4. GMO causes infertility, cancer, allergies.
- An allergic reaction can be to any product. However, food is not considered a factor that may or may not affect the development of cancerous tumors. The WHO website lists more than 160 causes of cancer, and none of them are related to food. There are no GMOs either.
- Soybeans, rapeseed, corn, wheat are some of the most popular modified plants, and are often used in baby food. What "modified" ingredients should be avoided?
- It is undesirable to abuse cereals that contain a lot of starch. It is not only harmful to the undeveloped enzymatic system of the child, but also gives an insulin response. Starch is also often used as a thickening preservative in baby purees.
Soy is rarely found in baby formulas, and you can be sure about products for babies from 0 to 3 years old. A conscientious producer will add regular soybeans instead of genetically modified soybeans. The same with corn.
Despite the fact that we have secured ourselves by a ban on the import of products with GMOs, when ordering online from abroad, there is a risk of purchasing baby food with GMOs that is not certified in Russia.
MAMAKO ® Goat Milk Non-GMO Baby Food also does not contain starch, rapeseed or palm oil. Links to a wide range of products:
- Non-GMO infant formula
- non-GMO baby cereals
- non-GMO baby cream soups
- non-GMO baby puree with cottage cheese and fruit
MAMAKO ® ORGANIC cereals are a combination of organic cereals and fruits and 32% ORGANIC farm goat milk.
— What to look for when choosing baby food: what should not be in infant formula, and what labels can alert?
- All components of baby food should be natural and understandable to mom, and a product with unknown ingredients should be immediately returned to the shelf .
Moisture-retaining ingredients, vegetable fats, and many other food ingredients can be dangerous.
- Among the E-additives there are few natural ingredients, for example, E260 - citric acid, E300 - ascorbic acid, E290 - carbon dioxide. It is necessary to be afraid of synthetic additives among preservatives and thickeners, because they affect digestion, the occurrence of allergies. For children, the most dangerous food additive E270 is lactic acid, which must be avoided.
- Flavors that are identical to natural, they only talk about imitation of natural ingredients, but in fact they are artificial ingredients.
- Carcinogenic additives, additives that can harm the stomach, lead to skin diseases, cause intestinal disorders, and pressure changes are prohibited in the Russian Federation.
- Is organic baby food different from "bio" products?
- A product made from pure agricultural raw materials is called organic. To do this, plants are grown without fertilizers and growth stimulants, and free-range, stress-free keeping and growing without hormones and antibiotics are provided for animals.
At the same time, the ecological situation cannot guarantee an organic approach to cultivation, and the concept of "environmentally friendly production" is often confused with "natural product".
Prefixes bio - in bio-potatoes, bio-kefir - will have different meanings. In fermented milk products, such marking means the presence of not only beneficial fungi, but also live bacteria. This is another category of product with additives. Some of them are needed to give the product certain properties so that it looks good, stored for a long time - and they are not very useful; others are beneficial - for example, products of the 0-3 year category are fortified.
— Is it possible to completely avoid GMOs by switching a child to homemade natural baby food?
- No matter how sad it may sound, no one is immune from anything. When a mother cooks at home, she cannot be one hundred percent sure of the quality of the products. Both gastroenterologists and allergists tend to this.
Even garden-grown potatoes can be overfed with fertilizer. The same goes for complementary foods - you can spend time cooking, but not get sure that the child eats really high-quality food, including without the intervention of genetic engineering.
The topic of GMOs is controversial, especially in baby food, because genetic modification of crops is often confused with gene mutation. Some argue that such products should not be eaten, while others, on the contrary, say that they do not affect health. Therefore, the issue of genetically modified food should be approached carefully and given to the child industrial baby food marked “GMO-free”.
* Breast milk is the best food for babies. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of a child's life and continued breastfeeding after complementary foods are introduced until the age of 2 years. Before introducing new products into the baby's diet, you should consult with a specialist. The material is for informational purposes and cannot replace the advice of a healthcare professional.
For feeding children from birth. The product is certified.
Non-GMO palm oil formula list
What are the dangers of palm oil and GMO formulas? Expert opinion and expert advice on choosing safe substitutes.
Contents
- Why Choose Non-GMO, Palm Oil Free Formula
- Types of Palm Oil Free Infant Formula
- Which Palm Oil Free Infant Formula
- List of Palm Oil Free Infant Formula
- Best Infant Formula
- Conclusions
Breast milk is a unique product created by wise nature. It contains all the substances necessary for the baby: fats and trace elements, vitamins and food enzymes. Receiving mother's milk, the child grows and develops correctly. But what if, for some reason, breastfeeding is not possible? The way out is to use adapted infant formulas. At the same time, caring parents want their child to receive high-quality baby food without palm oil and GMOs.
What do experts think about this and what products do they recommend? Why is palm oil dangerous and why do manufacturers add it to products for children?
Why Choose Non-GMO Palm Oil Formula
Most breast milk substitutes contain palm oil.
Why is it added to infant formula? Breast milk is saturated with fats (fatty acids), there are more than a dozen of them. Palmitic or hexadanoic acid makes up 1/4 of all fats in breast milk.
And fats are both building blocks for cells and the most important energy resource for the body. And in order to bring the composition of artificial substitutes closer to breast milk, vegetable and milk fats are introduced into them. Palm oil is most often used for this purpose, it is obtained from the fruits of the oil palm. It is characterized by a high content of hexanoic acid.
However, a wary and sometimes very negative attitude has formed towards palm oil products. Indeed, an excess of fatty acids and cholesterol, and a rather high melting point in the body, makes this component not the best in baby food. In addition, studies have found that this product interferes with the normal absorption of calcium, which negatively affects the growth and development of the child, worsens the functioning of the baby's digestive system.
This is why most parents choose palm oil-free infant formula. But in addition to it, other components that pose a danger to the health of the newborn can be added to substitutes. For example, genetically modified ingredients. How to choose high-quality and safe food for babies? What to pay attention to?
Types of baby formula without palm oil
Experts say that when using baby food without palm and coconut oil, the absorption of calcium and fats by the body of newborns is significantly improved by about 20-25%. And specialists from the Research Institute of Nutrition (Moscow) say that infant formulas with palm oil are quite safe and recommend them for feeding children up to a year and older. The main thing is that the manufacturer does not exceed the permissible dosage of the components.
Palm oil-free substitutes are recommended for infants with digestive problems. These mixtures contribute to intensive weight gain in prematurity and have a beneficial effect on the infant's immunity.
According to the composition of the product, artificial milk substitutes are divided into the following types:
- anti-reflux;
- hypoallergenic;
- with prebiotics;
- low-lactose or lactose-free;
- soy;
- fermented milk.
Anti-reflux substitutes are recommended for newborns who experience frequent regurgitation during feeding. Hypoallergenic are prescribed for children who are at risk of possible food allergies. Foods with prebiotics have a beneficial effect on the activity of the gastrointestinal tract. If an infant is lactose intolerant, low-lactose or lactose-free substitutes are prescribed.
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Which infant formula does not contain palm oil
Only 2 manufacturers do not use palm oil in the production of their products under the brands Similac and Nanny . Nutrilon, Kabrita and Heinz went the other way. Their products contain beta palmitate, a substance with a modified structure of palmitic acid.
Thanks to this, calcium is absorbed much better, which has a beneficial effect on bone mineralization, as well as the mental and physical development of infants.
Palm oil is completely eliminated from Similac and Nanny 9 infant formulas0005
List of palm oil free infant formulas
If you are interested in a list of pure palm oil free baby formulas, we can recommend:
- Nanny . Produced in New Zealand. Hypoallergenic product based on goat milk;
- Similac . Produced in Denmark. Contains elements useful for digestion;
- Heinz . Created in the USA. Enriched with elements that activate digestion;
- Kabrita . The product is produced in the Netherlands, contains omega acids and beneficial bacteria;
- Nutrilon . Contains prebiotics. Produced in the Netherlands.
Similac
Kabrita
Nutrilon
Unfortunately, there are no domestic brands among the presented manufacturers, and the price of the presented brands is quite high.
But if you care about the health of the child, then at least during the first 6 months, try to buy high-quality and safe food for the crumbs.
Best Infant Formula
A range of palm oil free formulas are available for both healthy babies and babies with allergies and those who are overweight or lactose intolerant, have gastrointestinal dysfunctions.
Consider the main characteristics of Similac palm oil based infant formulas:
| 0232 | ||
| Similac Premium 1, 2, 3 | Added prebiotics and probiotics. The mixture is enriched with minerals and macronutrients. As close as possible to breast milk. Beneficial effect on digestion | from 0 to 18 months. |
| Similac 1, 2 | Recommended for healthy formula/mix-fed babies. Enriched with prebiotics. | from 6-12 months |
| Similac GA 1, 2 | Hypoallergenic adapted blend. Normalizes digestion, improves immunity. It is prescribed for possible food allergies and for preventive purposes. | from 6-12 months |
| Similac PediaSure vanilla, chocolate | With prebiotics and vitamin-mineral complex. Improved taste. | from 12 months |
| Similac Isomil | Formulated with soy protein with antioxidants and prebiotics. Reduces regurgitation, prevents gas formation and colic. | Recommended for newborns with cow's milk protein allergy and lactose intolerance. |
| Similac Low lactose | Contains prebiotics. Normalizes digestion. | For lactose negative neonates. |
| Similac 1 Antireflux | Enriched with a complex of nutrients. Normalizes the work of the digestive tract. | For newborns with frequent regurgitation. |
| Similac NeoSure | Enriched with a full range of nutrients. Promotes the rapid growth of the child. | Premature and small babies born weighing less than 1. 8 kg. |
Palm oil free infant formula is available in Nanny's goat's milk based range. This healthy milk is closer in composition to breast milk than cow's milk. Thanks to the balanced protein and the prebiotics included in the composition, such nutrition will be useful for healthy babies and babies with low weight or with prematurity.
What is the best infant formula? Experts recommend those that contain prebiotics and vitamin-mineral complexes. At the same time, do not forget about the individual characteristics of the baby. And in order not to make a mistake when choosing baby food, be sure to consult a pediatrician.
Conclusions
In order for your baby to grow up healthy and develop properly, give preference to infant formula without palm oil. This will contribute to the full absorption of calcium, will favorably affect the digestion process and support the baby's immunity. Substitutes of this type are recommended for children from birth to 18 months.
