Gmo Vs Non Gmo Infant Formulas Finding The Best Option For Your Baby Motherhood Community

What Does GMO Mean In Baby Formula?

“GMO” (genetically modified organism) is the term used to describe any animal, plant, or microorganism whose DNA (genetic material) has been altered through genetic engineering. (1) The purpose of GMOs is to prevent crop loss and improve farmers’ yield because these GMOs are more resistant to diseases, viruses, and insect damage. They’re usually tolerant to herbicides, too, so that farmers can use these chemicals to control weeds without damaging crops. (1)

Is GMO Formula Bad For Babies?

While GMO foods and formulas may have provided consumers with more affordable options, there’s also growing concern about their impact on health. Dr. Michelle Perro, a California-based pediatrician, recommends choosing organic formulas with non-GMO ingredients for your baby. She said: (2)

What Is The Difference Between GMO, Non-GMO, And Organic?

Note that there’s a difference between GMO-free and certified organic foods or baby formulas. Increased exposure to environmental toxins during those sensitive times may contribute to the health conditions noted above.” Non-GMO baby formulas or foods are those that are made without GMOs. They can come from organic or regular sources. That’s why some formulas aren’t organic but are non-GMO. Examples are Similac Pro-Total Comfort and Enfamil Neuropro Gentlease. Certified organic foods or formulas are all non-GMOs because the use of genetic engineering is prohibited in all organic products. They’re also free from pesticides, herbicides, and other harmful chemicals. (3) High-quality regular formulas can still provide your baby with complete nutrition, but a non-GMO, organic infant formula may offer a healthier alternative. While they might cost more than traditional formulas, you’re assured that the organic product doesn’t contain chemicals that may affect your baby’s health.

Which Baby Formula Is Non-GMO?

The following are some GMO-free formulas: HiPP Organic Formula (28.22 oz can: $46.99)

This European formula contains (prebiotics) galacto-oligosaccharides and (probiotics) Lactobacillus fermentum.

Holle Goat Based Formula (14.12 oz can, case of four: $32.99 each)

It’s sourced from organic farms that follow the strictest EU standards.

Else Plant-Based Complete Nutrition for Toddlers (22 oz can: $36)

It’s an organic plant-based formula that can provide your toddler with whole food nutrients for natural digestion.

Baby’s Only Organic Pea Protein Formula (12.7 oz can: $14.99)

This dairy-free product may be the only pea protein formula currently on the market.

Enfamil Neuropro Gentlease (19.5 oz tub: $29.99)

It has MFGM (milk fat globule membrane) that may support your baby’s cognitive development. (4)

Similac Pro-Advance (20.6 oz tub: $28.99)

It has the prebiotic 2’-FL HMO (2’-fucosyllactose human milk oligosaccharide), which may support your baby’s developing immune system. (5)

Earth’s Best Soy-Based Infant Formula (23.2 oz tub: $31.96)

It’s a soy formula with most of its ingredients from organic sources.

Continue reading for details about these non-GMO formulas.

HiPP Dutch Organic Combiotic Infant Milk Formula

Pricing

28.22 oz can, case of 10: $42.99 each 28.22 oz can, case of six: $45.99 each

Best Features & Safety

It contains natural ingredients in breast milk: (prebiotics) galacto-oligosaccharides and (probiotics) Lactobacillus Fermentum cultures. It’s a European formula sourced from farms that strictly comply with EU standards (European Union) for organic farming.

Ingredients

Organic whey Organic skim milk Organic lactose Organic vegetable oils (palm, sunflower, or rapeseed oil) Organic galacto-oligosaccharides (sourced from organic lactose) Whey protein Fish oil Choline Mortierella alpina oil (ARA) Hereditum Lactobacillus Fermentum CECT5716 (probiotics)

Nutrition Facts

Each serving of 3.4 oz has the following:

Total fats: 3.6 g Total carbohydrates: 7 g Fibers: 0.3 g Proteins: 1.25 g Vitamin E: 0.7 mg Vitamin K: 5.1 mcg Iron: 0.5 mg Calcium: 51 mg DHA (docosahexaenoic acid): 13.2 mg ARA (arachidonic): 13.2 mg Omega-3 fatty acids: 0.06 g Omega-6 fatty acids: 0.4 g

Product Recall

In August 2021, Able Groupe recalled this formula and other products from HiPP, plus other European formula brands Bioland, Holle, and Kendamil for: (6)

Lack of FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) pre-market approval Lower iron content than the recommended 1 mg per 100 calories Missing the label that indicates the possible need for iron supplementation

These formulas are still safe for consumption, but your baby might need iron supplementation. Consult with your pediatrician.

Pros

It’s made with minimal manufacturing processes yet has a stable shelf life. It has DHA from fish oil. It’s free from corn syrup, gluten, soy, peanuts, artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, or other additives.

Cons

It was recalled in the US. (6) Your baby may need iron supplementation if you use this formula. It has palm oil which can affect calcium absorption in your baby’s body. (7) It contains highly processed vegetable oils, such as rapeseed (canola). It can cost more than regular formula brands.

What Customers Say

Positive Reviews “The HiPP Dutch works so well for my baby.” – Reviewer on Little Bundle. Negative Reviews “My son did not do well on this formula.” – Reviewer on Shopper Approved.

Holle Organic Goat Milk Formula

Pricing

14.12 oz can, case of four: $32.99 each 14.12 oz can, case of six: $30.99 each 14.12 oz can, case of 12: $28.99 each

Best Features & Safety

It’s a goat formula sourced from farms that follow the strictest EU standards. It has smaller proteins than cow’s milk, which may make them easier to digest. It can be a gentle formula for babies with sensitive stomachs.

Ingredients

Organic full cream goat’s milk powder Organic lactose Organic maltodextrin Organic vegetable oils (rapeseed or sunflower oil) Microalgae oil

Nutrition Facts

Each serving of 3.4 fl oz has the following:

Calories: 68 kcal Total fats: 3.6 g Total carbohydrates: 7.5 g Proteins: 1.4 g Vitamin E: 1.3 mg Iron: 0.67 mg Calcium: 60.7 mg Linoleic acid: 510 mg Choline: 21 mg Iodine: 13.6 mcg

Product Recall

It’s among the European formula brand products (HiPP, Holle, Kendamil, and Bioland) recalled in August 2021 for: (6)

Low iron content Failure to meet FDA pre-market requirements Incorrect labeling

Consult with your pediatrician before using this formula. It’s generally safe for consumption but your baby might need iron supplementation.

Pros

It’s free from soy, added sugars, gluten, artificial preservatives, flavors, chemicals, or colors. It doesn’t have brown rice syrup or palm olein oil. It contains DHA from algae.

Cons

It has had a recall in the US. (6) You may need iron supplements for your little one. It may cost more than regular formulas. It has vegetable oils and maltodextrin.

What Customers Say

Positive Reviews “Cured my babies EZCEMA with Holle Goats Milk. ” – Reviewer on Organic Baby Shop. Negative Reviews “This product made my baby really sick. He’d throw it all up every time I gave it to him.” – Reviewer on Nursing Angel.

Else Plant-Based Complete Nutrition for Toddlers

Pricing

22 oz can: $36 22 oz can, case of two: $70 22 oz can, case of four: $136

Best Features & Safety

It’s an organic plant-based formula. Each serving has 4 mg of iron per 180 calories (that’s 2.22 mg per 100 calories), which is twice the FDA’s minimum requirement of at least 1 mg of iron per 100 calories. (8) It’s free from dairy, soy, gluten, and corn syrup. It doesn’t use hexane for chemical processing and solvent extraction methods. It doesn’t use highly processed ingredients.

Ingredients

Organic buckwheat flour Organic almond butter Organic tapioca maltodextrin Organic sunflower lecithin Organic cane sugar

Nutritional Facts

One serving of 4 fl oz contains the following:

Calories: 180 calories Total fats: 9 g Total carbohydrates: 19 g Added sugars: 2 g Dietary fibers: 2 g Proteins: 5 g Vitamin A: 145 mcg Vitamin C: 4 mg Choline: 40 mg Iron: 4 mg Calcium: 220 mg

Product Recall

None

Pros & Cons

Pros

It doesn’t contain corn syrup. It’s a plant-based formula that can be suitable for vegetarians. It’s sustainably made. It can provide your toddler with whole food nutrients for natural digestion.

Cons

It’s not suitable as baby food or formula during your child’s first year; it’s only for toddlers over a year old. According to the company’s website, this formula shouldn’t be used as your toddler’s sole nutrition source. Instead, it’s better to use it with breast milk, cow’s milk (formula), and/or solid foods. It contains tree nuts (almonds) and may not be ideal for kids with nut allergies. It may be prone to clumping. It has added sugars and maltodextrin.

What Customers Say

Positive Reviews “My grand daughter cannot drink milk but she loves shakes made with Else and I love the extra nutrition she gets everyday from this.” – Reviewer on Else Nutrition’s website. Negative Reviews

Baby’s Only Organic Pea Protein Formula

Pricing

12.7 oz can: $14.99 12.7 oz can, pack of six cans: $89.94 12.7 oz can, pack of 12 cans: $179.88

Best Features & Safety

It may be the only pea protein-based formula currently on the market. It’s free from soy proteins, dairy, and gluten. This plant-based formula can be suitable for Kosher diets and vegetarians. It contains essential fatty acids that may promote brain structure and eye development.

Ingredients

Organic pea protein concentrate Organic brown rice syrup Organic high oleic oil (sunflower or safflower) Organic canola oil Organic linoleic sunflower oil Organic sunflower lecithin Organic coconut oil

Nutritional Facts

Each serving of 4 fl oz contains:

Calories: 80 calories Total fats: 4 g Total carbohydrates: 9 g Proteins: 2 g Vitamin A: 70 mcg Vitamin D: 1.3 mcg Vitamin K: 7 mcg Choline: 10 mg Vitamin E: 1.1 mg Iron: 1.4 mg Calcium: 90 mg Potassium: 110 mg

Product Recall

None

Pros & Cons

Pros

It may be ideal if your child has food allergies or intolerance to dairy, gluten, wheat, soy, corn proteins, or tree nuts. It’s OU-certified Kosher. It’s free from insecticides, pesticides, or weed-killer glyphosate. It doesn’t contain DHA extracted with toxic chemicals that can damage the brain. It’s free from glucose or corn syrups as sweeteners. It doesn’t contain palm olein oil.

Cons

It’s only for kids over one year old. According to their website, pea protein-based formulas haven’t been commercially approved for formula feeding. Still, the formulation meets all the nutrient composition requirements set by the U.S. Infant Formula Act and the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics). It has brown rice syrup, a processed sweetener. It also contains vegetable oils, including canola oil.

What Customers Say

Positive Reviews “I started this formula when my son was 4months old and it has been great he loves it and… I love that the ingredients has most the nutrients needed for development without having harsh chemicals or dairy products!!!” – Reviewer on Nature’s One. Negative Reviews “My baby didn’t do well he had a skin reaction.” – Reviewer on Nature’s One.

Enfamil Gentlease NeuroPro Baby Formula

Price

19.5 oz tub: $29.99 19.5 oz tub, case of four: $116.99

Best Features & Safety

It contains smaller, easy-to-digest proteins. It contains MFGM (milk fat globule membrane), a breast milk component that can support your baby’s cognitive development. (4)

Ingredients

Corn syrup solids Partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk Whey protein-lipid concentrate (from milk) Vegetable oils (palm olein, soy, coconut, and high oleic sunflower oils) Mortierella alpina oil (ARA source) Schizochytrium Sp. oil (DHA source)

Nutrition Facts

Each serving of 5 fl oz contains the following nutrients:

Calories: 100 calories Total fats: 5.3 g Total carbohydrates: 10.8 g Added sugars: 0 g Proteins: 2.3 g Vitamin E: 2 IU Vitamin K: 9 mcg Iron: 1.8 mg Calcium: 82 mg Linoleic acid: 780 mg Choline: 24 mg

Product Recall

None

Pros

The proteins are smaller, which can make this formula easier to digest. It can be ideal for sensitive tummies. It has a thinner consistency and may make it dissolve more easily.

Cons

It contains palm olein oil, other vegetable oils, and corn syrup.

What Customers Say

Positive Reviews Negative Reviews

Similac Pro-Advance

Price

20.6 oz tub, one tub: $28.99

Best Features & Safety

It contains the prebiotic 2’-FL HMO (2’-fucosyllactose human milk oligosaccharide), which can support your baby’s developing immune system. (5) It contains OptiGRO, Similac’s special blend of vitamin E, DHA, and lutein which may help with brain development and eye health. (9)(10)

Ingredients

Nonfat milk High oleic safflower oil Whey protein concentrate Soy oil Coconut oil Short-chain fructooligosaccharides 2’-FL HMO Lutein Crypthecodinium cohnii oil (DHA) Mortierella alpina oil (ARA)

Nutrition Facts

Each serving of 5 fl oz contains:

Calories: 100 calories Total fats: 5.6 g Total carbohydrates: 10.5 g Proteins: 2.07 g Vitamin E: 1.5 IU Iron: 1.8 mg Calcium: 78 mg Linoleic acid: 1,000 mg Choline: 24 mg Iodine: 15 mcg

Product Recall

None

Pros & Cons

Pros

It doesn’t have artificial growth hormones. It contains DHA and ARA. There’s no palm olein oil.

Cons

It contains highly processed vegetable oils. It has soy oil. While highly processed soy oil isn’t an allergen, you might choose not to include any soy ingredient in your child’s diet. (11) It may cause constipation.

What Customers Say

Positive Reviews “My grandbaby is using this and she is doing great! Gaining weight, less fuss, better sleep, and not constipated.” – Reviewer on Similac’s website. Negative Reviews “Switched baby from advanced to this pro advance and that’s when problems started. He was restless, crying, gassy and inconsolable. He began to sleep less at night.” – Reviewer on Similac’s website.

Earth’s Best Non-GMO Soy-Based Infant Formula

Price

23.2 oz tub: $31.96

Best Features & Safety

It’s a soy formula that may be suitable for lactose intolerance. It’s a plant-based infant formula that meets FDA requirements for complete nutrition. Most of this formula’s ingredients come from organic sources. It has DHA from algal oil.

Ingredients

Organic corn syrup solids Organic palm olein or palm oil Soy proteins Organic soy oil Organic coconut oil Organic high oleic (safflower or sunflower) oil Mortierella alpina oil (ARA source) DHA algal oil (schizochytrium)

Nutrition Facts

Each serving of 5 fl oz contains:

Calories: 100 calories Total carbohydrates: 10.6 g Total fats: 5.3 g Total carbohydrates: 10.6 g Proteins: 2.5 g Vitamin A: 300 IU Vitamin B6: 60 mcg Vitamin C: 12 mg Vitamin D: 60 IU Iron: 1.8 mg Calcium: 105 mg Linoleic acid: 750 mg Choline: 24 mg

Product Recall

None

Pros & Cons

Pros

It has ARA and DHA for your child’s eye health and brain development. (9) It’s Kosher certified.

Cons

It doesn’t contain dairy ingredients but is manufactured in dairy equipment that may increase the risk of cross-contamination. It also has soy oil. It contains corn syrup and palm olein oil. It also has vegetable oils.

What Customers Say

Positive Reviews “This one isnt harsh on her stomach, she doesnt spit up, shes not gassy.” – Reviewer on Earth’s Best website. Negative Reviews “The ingredients in this formula are stellar but unfortunately our little gal did not love it.” – Reviewer on Earth’s Best website.

Summary & Recommendation

These GMO-free formulas have different pros and cons. You can pick the best one, depending on what you want for your baby. Choose:

HiPP Organic Formula – if you prefer a European formula with a combination of prebiotics and probiotics. Holle Goat Based Formula – if you prefer goat formula sourced from organic farms that follow the strictest EU standards. Else Plant-Based Complete Nutrition for Toddlers – if you’re looking for an organic plant-based formula that may provide your toddler with whole food nutrients for natural digestion. Baby’s Only Organic Pea Protein Formula – if you want your baby to try a dairy-free product made from pea protein formula. Enfamil Neuropro Gentlease – if you prefer a formula with MFGM to support your baby’s cognitive development. (4) Similac Pro-Advance – if you prefer a formula with the prebiotic 2’-FL HMO to support your baby’s developing immune system. (5) Earth’s Best Non-GMO Soy-Based Infant Formula – if you prefer an organic soy formula.

REFERENCES (1) https://www.fda.gov/food/agricultural-biotechnology/how-gmo-crops-impact-our-world (2) https://www.greenamerica.org/blog/downsides-gmo-infant-formula-we-asked-pediatrician (3) https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2013/05/17/organic-101-can-gmos-be-used-organic-products (4) https://bmcpediatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12887-020-02087-9 (5) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6213476/ (6) https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/able-groupe-recalling-products-labeled-infant-formula-formulas-have-insufficient-iron-levels (7) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16582027/ (8) https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm?fr=107.100 (9) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10479465/ (10) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6164534/ (11) https://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/soy-allergy.aspx

title: “Gmo Vs Non Gmo Infant Formulas Finding The Best Option For Your Baby Motherhood Community” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-21” author: “Robert Pamperin”