Organix baby food usa


Organic Baby Food & Toddler Food

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Hello, we're Organix!

Deliciously tasty, utterly organic foods & snacks for little ones 6-months to 6-years.

From perfect purees for those first tastes, veggie packed meals for hungry toddlers, or tantalizing finger foods and snacks to really get those taste buds tingling, Organix has got it covered keeping little tummies happy at all times! Spark their love of great food.

Discover What's New

From new food launches to competitions - this is the spot to find out the latest on everything Organix!

NEW Baby and Toddler Meals

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NEW AND IMPROVED Rice Cake Clouds

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NEW Organix Weaning Wands

Grabbable, munchable, melt in the mouth-able

 

NEW Organix Kids Snacks

Perfect for lunchboxes!

Limited Edition Blueberry & Apple Soft Oaty Bars

Oat my greatness! Our NEW Limited-Edition Blueberry & Apple Soft Oaty Bars have arrived. Packed with organic juicy raisins, wholegrain oats and delicious fruity blueberry and apple flavour. They make the perfect snack for those little adventures. Spark their love of great food.

View the full range

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Good for Planet. Good for Me.

We’ve joined forces with JB Gill and The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) to create this week-by-week programme to get little ones across the nation eating their way through a rainbow of nutritious and delicious fruit and veggies!

Each week there will be a new series of recipes and fun activities to try with your little one. From Bug Hotels, growing carrots, singing songs, plus healthy recipe ideas, fun plates and sensory games to play to help them become a 'Rainbow Explorer.'

Find out more here.

Explore our Range

6 months +

Start their journey with organically grown cereals and gently baked baby snacks.

Explore the range

7 months +

Pick up perfect finger foods in fun, simple shapes - made from fruit and veg goodness that melts in the mouth.

Explore the range

10 months +

A world of new textures and flavours awaits! From puffs to chunky mueslis, all with the reassurance of our No Junk Promise!

Explore the range

12 months +

On the go! From soft oaty bars to tasty little letters and giant gingerbread men - great for little fingers!

Explore the range

18 months +

Explore and play! From Jammie Monster biscuits to out of this world cheese snacks - perfect organic snacks for children who love to play with their food!

Explore the range

Help & Advice

Baby and Toddler Snacks

Toddlers need to snack to grow. Take a peek at our snack ideas to help top them up & keep them going.

Baby Weaning Plans

Download and print off our weaning charts for 6, 7 and 10 month old babies and enjoy your weaning journey!

Weaning Tips & Advice

Knowing when to start weaning can be confusing and worrying, take a peek at our weaning tips for when to start and how.

Baby & Toddler Recipes

Rana Conway's Banana Bread

Great for your first trimester especially if you can't face breakfast but you need something mid-morning to keep you going. Packed with bananas and no refined sugar.

Contains:

  • Nuts

  • Eggs

  • Gluten

  • Wheat

Suitable for:

  • No dairy

Banana puree

This simple banana puree recipe for baby is packed full of nutrients for your little one. Prepare it in minutes for the first step on your weaning journey.

Contains:

  • No Allergens

Suitable for:

  • Vegetarian

  • Vegan

  • Gluten free

Aubergine Flapjacks

These savoury flapjacks are made with simple wholesome ingredients and are really easy to make. A great on-the-go veggie packed snack for your toddlers!

Contains:

  • Milk

  • Gluten

  • Eggs

Suitable for:

  • Vegetarian

Rocket Tortilla Wrap Pizza

Let your little ones choose their favourite toppings for this tortilla wrap pizza recipe - a healthy and fun alternative to traditional pizza dough!

Contains:

  • Gluten

  • Wheat

  • Milk

Suitable for:

  • Vegetarian

Buy Organic Baby Food Products

  • New

    Meals Stage 1

    Organix Peachy Peach (2x100g)

    Regular price
    £2. 25

    Sale price
    £2.25

    Regular price

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    /per 

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  • New

    Meals Stage 1

    Organix Easy Peas (2x100g)

    Regular price
    £2.25

    Sale price
    £2.25

    Regular price

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    /per 

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  • New

    Meals Stage 1

    Organix Perfect Pumpkin (2x100g)

    Regular price
    £2. 25

    Sale price
    £2.25

    Regular price

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    /per 

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  • New

    Meals Stage 2

    Organix Creamy Root Veggies with Chicken (130g)

    Regular price
    £1.60

    Sale price
    £1.60

    Regular price

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    /per 

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  • New

    Meals Stage 2

    Organix Herby Butternut with Beans (130g)

    Regular price
    £1. 60

    Sale price
    £1.60

    Regular price

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    /per 

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  • New

    Meals Stage 2

    Organix Magnificent 7 Veggies (130g)

    Regular price
    £1.60

    Sale price
    £1.60

    Regular price

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    /per 

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  • New

    Meals Stage 2

    Organix Rainbow Veggies with Lentils (130g)

    Regular price
    £1. 60

    Sale price
    £1.60

    Regular price

    Unit price
    /per 

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  • New

    Meals Stage 3

    Organix Very Veggie Pasta with Herbs (190g)

    Regular price
    £2.20

    Sale price
    £2.20

    Regular price

    Unit price
    /per 

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  • New

    Meal Stage 3

    Organix Hearty Sweet Potato & Lentils with Chicken (190g)

    Regular price
    £2. 20

    Sale price
    £2.20

    Regular price

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    /per 

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  • New

    Meals Stage 3

    Organix 5 Sunshine Veggies with Red Lentils (190g)

    Regular price
    £2.20

    Sale price
    £2.20

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    /per 

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  • New

    Meals Stage 3

    Organix Tropical Chickpeas with Rice (190g)

    Regular price
    £2. 20

    Sale price
    £2.20

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    /per 

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  • New

    Meal

    Organix Berry Sunshine Bowl with Yoghurt, Banana & Oats (120g)

    Regular price
    £1.50

    Sale price
    £1.50

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    /per 

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  • New

    Meal

    Organix Tropical Sunshine Bowl With Yoghurt, Mango & Oats (120g)

    Regular price
    £1. 50

    Sale price
    £1.50

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  • New

    Baby Snacks

    Organix Strawberry Weaning Wands 25g

    Regular price
    £1.20

    Sale price
    £1.20

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  • New

    Baby Snacks

    Organix Banana Weaning Wands 25g

    Regular price
    £1. 20

    Sale price
    £1.20

    Regular price

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    /per 

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  • New

    Kids

    Organix KIDS Crazy Choco Orange Mini Flapjack Bites (4x23g)

    Regular price
    £2.50

    Sale price
    £2.50

    Regular price

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    /per 

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  • New

    Kids

    Organix KIDS Cool Choco Mint Mini Flapjack Bites (4x23g)

    Regular price
    £2. 50

    Sale price
    £2.50

    Regular price

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    /per 

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  • New

    Kids

    Organix KIDS Luscious Lemon & Lime Oaty Bars (6x23g)

    Regular price
    £2.50

    Sale price
    £2.50

    Regular price

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    /per 

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  • New

    Kids

    Organix KIDS Marvellous Mandarin & Apple Oaty Bars (6x23g)

    Regular price
    £2. 50

    Sale price
    £2.50

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  • New

    Kids

    Organix KIDS Wholegrain Llama Puffs - Cheese & Onion (4x12g)

    Regular price
    £2.50

    Sale price
    £2.50

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  • New

    Kids

    Organix KIDS Wholegrain Llama Puffs - Pizza (4x12g)

    Regular price
    £2. 50

    Sale price
    £2.50

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  • New

    7 months +

    Organix Summer Fruits Rice Cake Clouds 40g

    Regular price
    £1.25

    Sale price
    £1.25

    Regular price

    Unit price
    /per 

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  • New

    7 months +

    Organix Apple Rice Cake Clouds 40g

    Regular price
    £1. 25

    Sale price
    £1.25

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    /per 

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  • New

    7 months +

    Organix Strawberry Rice Cake Clouds 40g

    Regular price
    £1.25

    Sale price
    £1.25

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  • New

    7 months +

    Organix Banana Rice Cake Clouds 40g

    Regular price
    £1. 25

    Sale price
    £1.25

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  • New

    7 months +

    Organix Cherry Rice Cake Clouds 40g

    Regular price
    £1.25

    Sale price
    £1.25

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  • New

    Organix Rice Cake Clouds Mixed Pack (15x40g)

    15 x 40g

    Regular price
    £16. 00

    Sale price
    £16.00

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  • New

    Snacks

    Organix Apple Rice Cake Clouds Multipack 72g (4x18g)

    Regular price
    £2.50

    Sale price
    £2.50

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  • Merchandise

    Dear Zoo Little Library

    Regular price
    £4. 50

    Sale price
    £4.50

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  • 6 months +

    Vanilla Little Ruskits

    Regular price
    £1.75

    Sale price
    £1.75

    Regular price

    Unit price
    /per 

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  • 10 months +

    Veggie Mini Mix Ups

    Available in sharing bag

    Regular price
    £0. 70

    Sale price
    £0.70

    Regular price

    Unit price
    /per 

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  • 10 months +

    Veggie Mini Mix Ups Multipack

    Available in sharing bag

    Regular price
    £2.30

    Sale price
    £2.30

    Regular price

    Unit price
    /per 

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  • 12 months +

    Limited Edition Choco Orange Soft Oaty Bars

    Available in 6 pack

    Regular price
    £2. 76

    Sale price
    £2.76

    Regular price

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    /per 

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  • 12 months +

    Limited Edition Personalised Choco Orange Soft Oaty Bars

    Available in 6 pack

    Regular price
    £12.00

    Sale price
    £12.00

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    /per 

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  • Bundle

    Baby Weaning Bundle

    Regular price
    £15. 00

    Sale price
    £15.00

    Regular price

    Unit price
    /per 

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  • Bundle

    Baby Melty Puffs Bundle 7+ Months - Multipacks

    Regular price
    £26.00

    Sale price
    £26.00

    Regular price

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    /per 

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  • Bundle

    Toddler Snacks Bundle

    Regular price
    £16.00

    Sale price
    £16. 00

    Regular price

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    /per 

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  • Bundle

    Toddler Puffs Bundle 10+ months - Multipacks

    Regular price
    £21.00

    Sale price
    £21.00

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    /per 

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  • Bundle

    Toddler Fruit Snacks Bundle

    Regular price
    £30.00

    Sale price
    £30.00

    Regular price

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    /per 

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  • Bundle

    Gruffalo Food & Snacks Box

    Regular price
    £26. 00

    Sale price
    £26.00

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    /per 

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  • Bundle

    Toddler Biscuit Bundle

    Regular price
    £35.00

    Sale price
    £35.00

    Regular price

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    /per 

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  • Bundle

    Toddler & Kids Oaty Bars Bundle

    Regular price
    £26.50

    Sale price
    £26. 50

    Regular price

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    /per 

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  • 6 months +

    Baby Rice

    Approx 16 portions per pack

    Regular price
    £1.99

    Sale price
    £1.99

    Regular price
    £1.99

    Unit price
    /per 

    Sale Sold Out

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  • 50% Off!

    10 months +

    Raspberry & Banana Muesli

    Approx 6 portions per pack

    Regular price
    from £1. 35

    Sale price
    from £1.35

    Regular price
    £2.69

    Unit price
    /per 

    Sale Sold Out

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  • 7 months +

    Multigrain Porridge

    Approx. 10 portions per pack

    Regular price
    £2.49

    Sale price
    £2.49

    Regular price
    £2.49

    Unit price
    /per 

    Sale Sold Out

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  • 7 months +

    Banana & Plum Baby Porridge

    Approx 9 portions per pack

    Regular price
    £2. 49

    Sale price
    £2.49

    Regular price

    Unit price
    /per 

    Sale Sold Out

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  • 6 months +

    Strawberry & Banana Porridge

    Approx 10 portions per pack

    Regular price
    from £2.19

    Sale price
    from £2.19

    Regular price

    Unit price
    /per 

    Sale Sold Out

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  • 6 months +

    Fruity Apple Porridge

    Approx 10 portions per pack

    Regular price
    from £2. 19

    Sale price
    from £2.19

    Regular price
    £2.19

    Unit price
    /per 

    Sale Sold Out

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  • 10 months +

    Banana, Peach & Apple Baby Muesli

    Approx 6 portions per pack

    Regular price
    £2.69

    Sale price
    £2.69

    Regular price

    Unit price
    /per 

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  • 10 months +

    Carrot & Herb Stix

    Available in singles

    Regular price
    £0. 62

    Sale price
    £0.62

    Regular price

    Unit price
    /per 

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Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device

Beech-Nut and Gerber found heavy metals in baby food

Probably everyone knows that some types of fish, such as bigeye tuna, king mackerel or swordfish, contain mercury and are therefore undesirable in the menu of children and pregnant women . As well as arsenic in certain grains, most notably rice. And what about baby food based on them? Is it really that safe?

Today, US baby food sales are about $53 billion, and by 2021, according to Zion Market Research, they will exceed $76 billion. And because children are more receptive to food than adults, Consumer Reports (CR) decided to check for the content heavy metals namely the range of baby food.

In the spring of 2018, CR experts tested 50 popular children's products: cereals, canned fruits and vegetables, packaged meals (for example, turkey and rice dinner), packaged snacks (cookies, crackers, chips, waffles, rice crackers, etc.), by purchasing 3 samples of each product from retailers across the country.

B o Most of the products were from the 2 largest US baby food manufacturers, Beech-Nut and Gerber. Also purchased were Baby Mum-Mum, Earth's Best, Ella's Kitchen, Happy Baby, Parent's Choice (Walmart), Plum Organics and Sprout.

Inspection has shown that some popular baby products on the US market are best avoided:

  • In 68% of samples, experts found "alarming" levels of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury and/or inorganic arsenic).
  • 15 out of 50 products tested were found to be generally hazardous to the health of a child consuming 1 serving per day or less.
  • Foods based on rice and/or sweet potato contained the highest amount of heavy metals.

Of the 50 products, only 16 contained heavy metals that did not exceed the safe limit.

The test results table is shown below.

Consumer Reports test data for each product:

N/A

Product name

Serving size Test score

Daily limit

Meals and Entrées
1. Gerber Lil' Entrées Chicken & Brown Rice With Peas & Corn

1 tray

+

Unlimited

2. Earth's Best Organic Chicken & Brown Rice

1 can, 4 oz (113 g)

< 1 serving
3. Earth's Best Turkey, Red Beans & Brown Rice

1 doypack

< 1 serving

4. Gerber Chicken & Rice

1 can, 4 oz (113 g)

< 1 serving

5. Gerber Turkey & Rice

1 can, 4 oz (113 g)

< 1 serving

6. Sprout Organic Baby Food Garden Vegetables Brown Rice With Turkey

1 doypack

< 1 serving

7. Gerber Lil' Meals White Turkey Stew With Rice & Vegetables*

1 tray

< 0.5 servings

Fruits and vegetables
8. Beech-Nut Classics Apple, Pear & Banana

1 can, 4 oz (113 g)

+

Unlimited

9. Beech-Nut Naturals Carrot, Broccoli, Apple & Strawberry*

1 can, 4 oz (113 g)

+

Unlimited

10. Beech-Nut Organic Just Apple & Green Beans

1 can, 4 oz (113 g)

+

Unlimited

11. Beech-Nut Organic Peas, Green Beans, and Avocado 1 doypack +

Unlimited

12. Gerber Grabbers Strong Veggies, Broccoli, Carrot, Banana, Pineapple

1 doypack

+

Unlimited

13. Gerber Organic Peas, Carrots & Beets*

1 doypack

+

Unlimited

14. Happy Baby Organics Purple Carrots, Bananas, Avocados & Quinoa

1 doypack

+

Unlimited

15. Gerber Carrot, Pear & Blackberry

1 container, 4 oz (113 g)

-

< 1 serving

16. Gerber Carrots Peas & Corn With Lil' Bits*

1 container, 5 oz (140 g)

< 1 serving

17. Plum Organics Just Sweet Potato Organic Baby Food

1 doypack

< 1 serving

18. Beech-Nut Classics Sweet Potatoes

1 can, 4 oz (113 g)

< 0.5 servings

19. Earth's Best Organic Sweet Potatoes, 1st Stage

1 can, 2.5 (70 g)

< 0.5 servings

Flakes
20. Gerber Breakfast Buddies Hot Cereal With Real Fruit, Apple Cinnamon*

1 bowl

+

Unlimited

21. Beech-Nut Complete Rice Single Grain Baby Cereal

0. 5 cups

< 3 servings

22. Happy Baby Organics Organic Probiotic Baby Cereal

4 tbsp. l.

< 3 servings

23. Beech-Nut Complete Oatmeal Whole Grain Baby Cereal

0.5 cups

< 2.5 servings

24. Beech-Nut Organic Oatmeal Whole Grain Baby Cereal

0.5 cups

< 2.5 servings

25. Earth's Best Organic Whole Grain Oatmeal Cereal

4 tbsp

< 2.5 servings

26. Gerber Oatmeal Single Grain Cereal

0.5 cups

< 2.5 servings

27. Gerber Organic Oatmeal Cereal

0.5 cups

< 2. 5 servings

28. Earth's Best Organic Whole Grain Rice Cereal

4 tbsp. l.

< 1 serving

Snacks
29. Beech-Nut Quinoa Crispies, Vanilla

1 block

+

Unlimited

30. Ella's Kitchen Apples + Strawberries Nibbly Fingers

0.33 bars

+

Unlimited

31. Gerber Graduates Puffs Cereal Snack Strawberry Apple

0.5 cups

+

Unlimited

32. Gerber Lil' Beanies Baked Snack Made With Beans, White Cheddar & Broccoli*

26 pcs.

+

Unlimited

33. Gerber Lil' Crunchies Baked Corn Snack Mild Cheddar

16 pcs.

+

Unlimited

34. Gerber Lil' Crunchies Baked Corn Snack Vanilla Maple

16 pcs.

+

Unlimited

35. Gerber Organic Puffs, Puffed Grain Snack, Apple

0.5 cups

+

Unlimited

36. Gerber Graduates Arrowroot Cookies

1 cookie

< 6 servings

37. Plum Organics Little Yums Organic Teething Wafers, Pumpkin & Banana*

1 wafer

< 5.5 servings

38. Gerber Graduates Cinnamon Graham Animal Crackers

2 crackers

< 4.5 servings

39. Gerber Graduates Banana Cookies

1 cookie

< 4 servings

40. Baby Mum-Mum Banana Rice Rusks

4 crackers

< 3 servings

41. Baby Mum-Mum Vegetable Rice Rusks

4 crackers

< 3 servings

42. Gerber Graduates Waffle Wheels Puffed Grain Snack, Banana Cream

4 pcs.

< 3 servings

43. Gerber Graduates Lil' Biscuits Vanilla Wheat

1 biscuit

< 2.5 servings

44. Gerber Graduates Cereal Bars, Strawberry Banana

1 block

< 1.5 servings

45. Parent's Choice (Walmart) Little Puffs Cereal Snack, Strawberry Apple

0.5 cups

< 1.5 servings

46.

Plum Organics Mighty Sticks Whole Grain Snacks, Berry Beet*

1 pack < 1.5 servings
47. Sprout Organic Quinoa Puffs Baby Cereal Snack, Apple Kale

0.33 cups

< 1.5 servings

48. Earth's Best Organic Sunny Days Snack Bars, Strawberry

1 block

< 1 serving

49.

Happy Baby Organics Superfood Puffs, Apple & Broccoli

0.5 cups

< 1 serving

50.

Happy Baby Organics Superfood Puffs, Purple Carrot & Blueberry 0.5 cups

< 1 serving

(+) - good results

(-) - poor results, alarming

stores.

Organic doesn't mean safe

Many parents will be surprised to find products labeled 9 in a poor results table0009 "organics" . Yes, USDA certified organic products are better than conventional products in many ways (environmental impact, pesticide levels, etc.). However, 20 out of 50 samples tested with this label still contained heavy metals.

As Consumer Reports food label expert Charlotte Wallai explained, organically banned arsenic and lead have been used in pesticides in the past and remain in soil today. Therefore, even raw materials grown according to strict modern standards cannot be completely free from these substances.

How heavy metals get into food

All of them are part of the earth's crust and therefore naturally occur in the environment. However, most of the heavy metals in food come from soil or water contaminated during agriculture or industry, in particular from the use of pesticides, and during the extraction and processing of minerals.

Plants absorb heavy metals from the ground and water, as well as nutrients. However, the "suction" capacity of some crops is much higher than others. Thus, rice absorbs about 10 times more arsenic than other grains.

How heavy metals affect the body

Iron and zinc are also heavy metals, but in reasonable amounts they only benefit the human body. But cadmium, inorganic arsenic, lead and mercury (especially methylmercury) are toxic in any concentration and pose a particular danger to young children. The longer you consume foods containing them, the more harm will be done to the body. Among the most serious problems are impaired cognitive development and, as a result, a decrease in IQ, behavioral problems (hyperactivity, attention deficit, autism), reproductive problems, the development of bladder, lung and skin cancer.

Steps parents can take now

According to Consumer Reports Chief Scientist James Dickerson, a child's consumption of foods containing heavy metals does not cause health problems right away, but increases the risk of future problems.

To protect both children and yourself from the accumulation of heavy metals in the body, Dr. Dickerson advises to adhere to the following rules:

1. Eat less rice and products from it. Cereals are often a baby's first solid food because they are easy to swallow. However, both the Food and Drug Administration and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend giving babies different types of cereals that do not contain large amounts of inorganic arsenic, such as oat and barley-based products.

2. Choose the right rice and cook it right. Brown rice has been shown to contain more inorganic arsenic than white rice. Prefer Basmati from California, India and Pakistan. You need to cook it in a large amount of water - from 6 to 10 parts of water to 1 part of rice. When the rice is ready, drain off the excess water.

3. Limit your consumption of packaged snacks. Many of them contain rice flour and generally do not represent any nutritional value for a growing organism.

4. Don't skimp on chocolate: cocoa powder may contain cadmium and/or lead.

What is being done at the legislative level

Today, the baby food market is not properly regulated by the state, according to Consumer Reports. Many parents are unaware of the presence of heavy metals in the foods they buy for their children because they believe that baby food is produced to stricter standards than other packaged foods.

However, this is not the case. Although the FDA recognizes that heavy metals pose a danger to children's bodies, there are still no regulations governing food safety for children.

In 2016, the FDA proposed limiting the allowable content of inorganic arsenic in rice used in children's products to 100 ppb (parts per billion), and in 2013, to limit it in apple juice to 10 ppb (the federal standard for the concentration of arsenic in children's products). drinking water). However, no limit has yet been set.

Based on the results of the Consumer Reports study, the Food and Drug Administration has promised to issue recommendations to manufacturers by the end of 2018: metals - USA . one - for the most vulnerable category of the population - children.

Also FDA stated that "plans to consider a wide range of strategies and actions to reduce the impact" of heavy metals on Americans' health. In particular, consumers will be informed about how to reduce the risks associated with toxic metals, and manufacturers will be encouraged (and forced) to minimize their content in their products.

We previously reported that virtually all foods in the US contain the dangerous pesticide glyphosate... Even breast milk.

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US to take military action on infant formula

Baby food problems in US triggered by recall of four infants from Michigan plant after infection of four babies with subsequent hospitalization / TANNEN MAURY / EPA / TASS

that the situation with access to baby food, including medical, is generally threatening around the world, warned the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on May 18. According to him, the cost of life-saving food for children who suffer from malnutrition will increase by 16% against the backdrop of the situation in Ukraine. In the next six months, 600,000 children around the world may be left without the necessary treatment, according to UNICEF. We are talking about special mixtures of high-calorie pasta with peanuts, butter, sugar and nutrients.

The situation has become critical even in the USA. President Joe Biden on Wednesday, May 18, took emergency measures to facilitate manufacturers' access to ingredients for infant formula. The deficit was created due to a three-month suspension of production of this product by the leading company in the country's market and the fourth in the world - Abbott Nutrition after complaints of microorganism poisoning. To stabilize the situation with access to baby food, Biden applied the Defense Production Act (DPA), passed in 1950 against the backdrop of the Korean War.

The use of DPA will allow prioritized redistribution of raw materials for the production of baby food and will create the possibility of accelerated import of products conforming to US standards from abroad by transport aircraft of US Department of Defense commercial contractors.

Biden turned to this law after a group of congressmen, both Democrats and Republicans, turned to him with the corresponding demand on May 17. The appeal was supported by both houses of Congress.

"Giving firms to prioritize and allocate production of key baby food ingredients will help boost production and speed up supply chains," the White House said in a statement. The US Department of Defense will use its commercial air freight contracts, "as it did to transport materials in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic," to transport products from facilities overseas. "Bypassing scheduled air travel routes will expedite the import and distribution of infant formula," the White House said in a press release. Previously, CNBC sources at the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) named Chile, Ireland, Mexico and the Netherlands as potential suppliers.

600,000 children around the world

may be left without the care they need in the next six months, UNICEF believes

Baby food problems in the US prompted a recall by major manufacturer Abbott Nutrition of products manufactured at a plant in Sturgis, Michigan, in mid-February . This came after four infants were poisoned in a number of states after being infected with salmonella and the bacterium Cronobacter sakazakii and subsequently hospitalized, two of whom died. The FDA regulator had complaints about the production process at the company’s plant back in October 2021.

The FDA and the manufacturer launched investigations, with the regulator ordering a recall of all Similac PM 60/40, Similac, Alimentum and EleCare brand blends that expired April 1, 2022. The company also had to suspend production for three months. No new cases of infection, with the exception of four in February, were recorded. On Monday, May 16, Abbott Nutrition reached an agreement with the FDA to allow production to resume at the Sturgis plant by hiring independent experts to ensure it is manufactured to approved standards. At the same time, the resumption of production does not promise to be fast. Abbott said it would take up to two weeks to reopen a Michigan facility and up to eight weeks for blends to be in stores across the US.

Abbott Nutrition, along with Mead Johnson Nutrition, Nestle USA and Perrigo, are key US baby food manufacturers. During the first week of May, 43% of infant formula was out of stock and in stores across the US, according to Datasembly, a company that tracks retail data. This roughly corresponds to Abbott Nutrition's share of the US baby food market, according to USDA estimates. As of early 2022, Abbott Nutrition was also the world's fourth-leading baby food manufacturer, according to Industry Research.

DPA appeared in 1950 and since then has been repeatedly supplemented, continuing to operate until now. In general, the idea of ​​the law is to give the President of the United States the right to require businesses to take actions that are necessary for national security, says Igor Slabykh, a lawyer practicing in the United States. And it is not only about military or economic security. Even such loose wording as "ensuring the national welfare" is also part of national security, Slabykh notes.

The lawyer recalled that since the beginning of the law, it has been applied about 50 times and this has been done by almost every US president. Both Donald Trump and Barack Obama applied the law immediately before Biden, Slabykh says. Trump used the law to demand priority production of ventilators early in the pandemic. Obama used the law to counter cyber threats from China. Biden himself has also already managed to use the law to increase the production of protective equipment that is used during the pandemic, as well as to produce a vaccine against COVID-19., says the lawyer.

The fact that Biden activated the Law on Defense Production speaks of an emergency, says Dmitry Suslov, deputy director of the HSE CCEMI. The shortage of milk formula is also associated with inflation - citizens simply sweep away the most important goods from the shelves. The problem of inflation is now of great concern to Americans, and it is precisely this that can become the main reason for the Democrats to lose in the midterm elections in November 2022, Suslov believes. In the fight against inflation, the Biden administration is failing, and it is no longer able to shift the arrows to Russia. Now Biden's rhetoric about "Putin's price increase" causes only irritation and laughter in the American public, the expert concludes.

In Russia, as Kommersant reported citing sources, in early March, a threat of a shortage of infant formula was recorded. According to the interlocutors of the publication, baby food manufacturers, in particular Nestle, notified retail chains about the depletion of raw materials. They attributed this to the failure of supplies from Europe. In parallel, demand, according to the sources of the newspaper, then jumped by 250%. At that time, problems had already arisen with powdered milk mixtures, as well as fruit puree, the sources of the newspaper say. On March 6, Tatyana Butskaya, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Family, Women and Children, announced numerous complaints about rising prices for breast milk substitutes.

On March 17, Rosstat announced an increase in prices for baby food by more than 4% in the first week of March alone. The Federal Antimonopoly Service then explained the rise in prices by the cancellation of promotions by manufacturers, thanks to which mixtures could be bought at a discount of up to 50%. In March, according to Rosstat, prices for children's canned vegetables increased by 7.2-12%. In April, a significant increase in prices for baby food was recorded in certain regions, for example, in the Sverdlovsk region in the middle of the month they increased by more than 7%, according to the regional statistical office. At the end of March, baby food manufacturers (Gerber, Nan Optipro, Nestogen) warned of a possible increase in prices for their products in Russia by up to 20–30% due to logistics difficulties amid sanctions.

At the beginning of April, the newspaper reported on the emergence of another factor in the shortage of baby food. So, on April 11, Russia introduced tougher measures of veterinary control over the import of products into the country.

However, by the beginning of May, the growth rate of prices for baby food in Russia as a whole slowed down to a range of 1%.

Although there are supply chain and logistics problems that are common around the world, the problem with the lack of baby food in the United States is a local issue related to the problems of American production, says Mikhail Burmistrov, CEO of Infoline Analytics. In Russia, the price pressure obviously remains, the expert agreed, in the segment of dairy products, prices for baby food are growing. But there is no systemic shortage of infant formula, except for the moments associated with those companies that limited the supply of certain brands to Russia, says Burmistrov. The March rise in prices was largely associated in Russia with massive rush demand amid panic due to anti-Russian sanctions in connection with the situation in Ukraine. Now, according to Burmistrov, it is not systematically visible that there is a sharp deterioration in the situation.


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