The Science Behind Organic Baby Formula - Is it worth the hype?

When it comes to your baby – it’s natural that you want to give them the best possible start. And the best possible milk. 

If you’re formula feeding, you might assume that organic is automatically the best choice. But the situation is a bit more complicated than that. Because not all organic formula is the same. And not all babies are the same. 

In fact, what legally constitutes ‘organic’ differs depending on where in the world you are – as regulations vary between countries. 

And there are restrictions on what ingredients can be used in any formula, plus requirements for certain nutrients to be included. Which means the difference between organic and non-organic formula isn’t always as big as you might expect.

First – let’s run through the basics on what’s in different types of formula, and what organic really means.

What does organic actually mean?

Organic farming methods are designed to work with and preserve natural ecosystems. Which means techniques like:

• Nourishing the soil with plants like clover that naturally help the soil become more fertile – instead of using artificial fertilizers.

• Using crop rotation and weed suppressing plants to stop the buildup of pests – and not using pesticides and weed killers. 

• Encouraging wildlife to live among crops, rather than seeing it as the enemy of crop production. 

• Raising animals without the use of hormones and antibiotics, and giving them space to roam, including access to pasture.

For any food – including formula – to carry an official organic label (such as from the EU or USDA), it needs to be made on farms that meet these kinds of standards. 

EU organic regulations are usually considered to be stricter than regulations elsewhere, especially on animal welfare. 

EU regulations require animals to be exclusively fed with organic feed cultivated on the respective farm, such as grass or other appropriate types of feed. Furthermore, there are stringent guidelines governing the transportation and processing of organic food. 

And very few GMO crops are authorized in the EU – on either conventional farms or organic. Those that are allowed are strictly vetted. This means that there isn’t much risk of cross contamination from neighboring farms, as there could be in countries where GMOs aren’t restricted.

Is organic food more nutritious?

There’s not much evidence that organic food in general is more nutritious than conventionally produced food. An organic carrot will contain the same levels of vitamins and minerals as a non-organic carrot. 

The important difference is that organic food is free of pesticides, antibiotics and hormones. And exposure to these things in food is damaging to health – increasing the risk of chronic illness, including cancer and heart disease (according to the European Environment Agency).

What about organic formula?

If pesticides and hormones are a risk to adults, it’s natural to want to avoid them in baby formula. So even if conventional formula contains the same levels of vitamins and other nutrients, organic is healthier. 

But it is important to recognize that formula production is pretty heavily regulated, regardless of whether or not it’s organic. Though regulations do vary between countries – and again, the EU is stricter than most other places, including the US. 

Both US and EU formulas have to contain a range of vitamins and minerals – which means pretty much any formula made on either side of the Atlantic will provide adequate nutrition. 

But the US tends to only make recommendations for some things that the EU considers essential. For example, iron – vital for development and making red blood cells – has to be in EU formula. The US recommends it, but not all US formulas include it. 

The same goes for DHA – vital to brain development – and required in EU formulas. Most formula manufacturers outside the EU do include it, not all, and the levels are often much lower. 

Another key difference is in where the carbs and calories come from in formula. In breastmilk, natural lactose provides the carbs and energy growing babies need (and they need a lot!). Formula manufacturers often need to add carbs in another form – and outside the EU, they sometimes use corn syrup. However, this ingredient has been associated with increased risks of obesity and diabetes.

But the EU bans corn syrup in formula. And EU regulations mean at least 30% of the calories in formula have to come from lactose. Organic formulas either provide 100% of their carbs from lactose, like Jovie, or they include a mild organic starch, like HiPP. 

Does my baby need organic formula to be healthy?

Any formula will give your baby the nutrition they need to grow. And being healthy isn’t just about formula – it’s about the diet you provide when you wean, and making sure your baby has time to play outdoors and explore the world. 

The right formula to choose is the one that suits your baby and your family best. 

To discover which European organic formula might be right for your baby, take this 2 minute quiz. You’ll get a personal recommendation from us.