Buy Organic Baby Food [UPDATED]
This line of baby food pouches and cups was co-founded by Jennifer Garner. Every ingredient is certified USDA organic and sustainably grown. Our nutrition pros say that Once Upon A Farm sets themselves apart from the other brands we reviewed due to the cold-pressed process that the blends utilize to lock in the nutrients, taste and texture of the farm-fresh ingredients. Testers said their littles loved the flavors, and one parent said she liked that the packs needed to be refrigerated, which made her feel that they were "very high quality."
buy organic baby food
Once Upon A Farm are the first baby and kids food brand to receive the Clean Label Project Purity Award, a third-party nonprofit that tests for over 400 environmental and industrial toxins including heavy metals. Their new Advanced Nutrition Blends for baby has the 1,000 Day Promise from the Clean Label Project too which is the first U.S. certification that requires heightened nutritional elements and regulation of heavy metals, toxic compounds and melamines found in baby food.
The beloved European baby food brand is now bringing their organic products to the U.S. Holle USA offers organic fruit puree as well as fruit and grain pouches, plus goat milk-based products and more. Our nutrition pros appreciate that the brand utilizes raw ingredients grown to biodynamic and organic standards. Parents love that the pouch packaging is made without BPA.
Mom Shazi Visram founded Happy Family Organics to provide a wide variety of healthy organic baby food options to parents. Our nutrition pros love that the brand offers 100% USDA organic pouches and jars (including a new organic and regenerative line), as well as hearty meal pouches for Stage 2, and organic oats cereal. Both the pears, zucchini and peas pouch and the apples, guavas and beets pouches were a hit. As your child continues to grow, they can enjoy even more Happy Family Organics products, including teethers, puffs, crackers, veggie straws, meal bowls, made simple mixes and more.
Plum Organics offers all USDA Organic pouches, puffs and teethers. They have items for all stages, and their stage 3 pouches help to develop a baby's palate for table food by incorporating blends of organic turkey, chicken and beef. One of our moms gives her 10-month-old the Plum Organics Just Prunes pouch every morning and says it keeps him regular. Another one of our tots loved the Mighty 4 blend that combines fruits, vegetables, grains and Greek yogurt. Plum also really pays it forward by donating their Super Smoothie pouches to children in need. Plus, their website has a page of different recipes on how adults can use their food as well.
This innovative baby food brand offers unique lines including Ethically Sourced Meats and Organic Savory veggies. The pouches are BPA-free and shelf-stable, and ingredients are best in class according to our nutrition pros. It's also a great way to introduce tasty savory blends and protein-packed ingredients like salmon, bison, turkey and more to your child. Their grain-free puffs made with cassava flour are perfect as your little grows and were a winner in our Parenting Awards. They also offer toddler pouches made with bone broth. Parents loved the use of premium ingredients like organic produce and extra virgin olive oil. "My doctor kept telling me to introduce meat to my daughter but I just didn't know how to prepare it. These pouches were a simple way to give my daughter meat and she absolutely loved it! She took it as easily as she does fruit purees," one tester said.
Serenity Kids blends have been tested by a third-party organization since 2018. The brand says that all of their products fall well below the proposed limits by the FDA and that they also chose to hold their foods to stricter European Union standards. They are dedicated to full transparency with their sourcing and only source ingredients from trusted American family farms who conduct testing on their own soil.
Your favorite supermarket ALDI is at it again with their line of Little Journey baby pouches and snacks. Our nutrition pros love that the pouches are all 100% USDA organic and boast delicious and nutritious combinations for your baby. As your child continues to grow, they can enjoy Little Journey munchers, yogurt bites and puffs.
Moms loved the price point on these Little Journey Packets and that they have no artificial colors or flavors, which are some of the many reasons why ALDI-exclusive Little Journey baby and toddler essentials have earned the Good Housekeeping Seal.
Our nutrition experts rave about these organic plant-based meals in powder form. The method Amara uses does not require repeated high heat processes. Just add water, formula or breastmilk to the mix and you have a healthy meal ready for your little one in seconds. Testers loved that the wholesome offerings were conveniently shelf-stable and featured unique superfood combos like applesauce with maqui berry.
Amara shared with Good Housekeeping that they individually source each baby food ingredient so they have the opportunity to deeply work with suppliers and sourcing in efforts to minimize heavy metal exposure in their food. They also do not use any rice products, additives, preservatives or ingredients that are traditionally known for heavy metals.
Gerber shared with Good Housekeeping that they have taken many steps to reduce the levels of heavy metals in our products. Specific actions include rigorous testing of ingredients and finished products, continuously seeking ingredient sources with the lowest heavy metal levels, removing rice as an ingredient in their multigrain infant cereal and replacing whole grain rice with rice in their organic rice cereals. They also actively engage with FDA and other stakeholders to help establish strict standards for heavy metals in foods consumed by young children to minimize exposure.
Testers love that these USDA organic purees, finger foods and snacks are thoughtfully made and delivered right to your door. This organic meal delivery service for littles is free from the big nine allergens too. What's more, they offer options for stage 1 through 7 and snacks as well. Our pros appreciate that Yumi features a guided program that introduces 3-4 new flavors each week, ultimately introducing 100+ different ingredients for a healthy eater.
There have been many public health concerns raised regarding heavy metals in baby food. In a report released in February 2021, a subcommittee within the US House of Representatives reported that toxic heavy metals, including lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, were found in some baby foods. These metals are naturally present in soil and water, they can be found in a variety of plant-based foods. Factors including farming practices and manufacturing processes can increase heavy metals concentration in these foods.
This document referred to specific pureed and prepared baby foods brands, including Happy Baby, Earth's Best, Gerber, Beech Nut, Plum Organics, Parent's Choice, and Sprout Organic Foods. Various concentrations of heavy metals were found in these products, some with high levels that were concerning. It is important to note that the data reported was collected between 2017 and 2019, prior to August 2020, when the FDA put out new guidelines around heavy metals in infant foods. These companies reported compliance with the FDA guidelines, making efforts to reduce potentially harmful heavy metals in their products. Some companies participate in third-party testing, while others rely on internal testing, which we have noted in the pros and cons section for each product in this article.
However, now in 2023, the FDA is proposing even tighter, new action levels for lead in foods intended for babies and children. These guidelines would reduce dietary exposure to lead by about 24-27% in infant cereals, single ingredient root vegetable products, fruit/vegetable mixtures, yogurts, custards and single-ingredient meats. The FDA plans to continue gathering and analyzing data to farther reduce lead in our food system.
Most pediatric experts agree that when it comes to baby food, variety is the best approach. Having a variety of foods from various sources and manufacturers ensures that children are not constantly exposed to any single ingredient that may contain high levels of heavy metals, therefore lowering the chances of exposure to dangerous concentrations.
Some research suggests both conventional and organically grown foods of the same variety have similar nutritional profiles. However, other research suggests organic produce can have higher levels of some antioxidants and lower levels of the heavy metal cadmium.
Ultimately, it is a personal preference to choose organic or conventional baby foods, as healthy options can be found from both sources. Keep in mind the American Dietary Guidelines recommend that eating a variety of nutrient-dense food is always the priority, whether organic or conventionally sourced.
Yes. To a certain extent, all foods contain toxic heavy metals. This is actually an issue with our global food supply. Low levels of toxic heavy metals have long been present in the global food supply, as they are naturally present in water and soil. Factors such as growth conditions, industrialization, and farming practices can increase heavy metal concentration in plant-based foods.
Some research suggests organic food can be lower in cadmium but not necessarily lower in all heavy metals. Organic baby foods do not necessarily reduce the risk or presence of all heavy metals in your food. As always, the recommendation remains to provide your family with a variety of foods from various sources and purchase from companies that are committed to testing their foods to ensure safe levels of these metals.
The "stages" of baby foods refer to your child's feeding level. Stage 1 foods are often single-ingredient purees, and they are the first foods introduced between 4 and 6 months. Stage 2 starts around 7 to 8 months and can be multi-ingredient purees that introduce new tastes and textures. Stage 3 is for babies 9 months or older and usually contains multiple ingredients and a bit of texture and complexity that may require chewing. As your child's oral skills advance, so will their feeding stage. 041b061a72