A Guide to Safer Formula
- Alex Kelly
- Dec 26, 2024
- 9 min read
Updated: Apr 2
Related links:
Safer Diapering Guide (shop on Amazon)
What to Look for in Safer Formula
There is no such thing as a perfect formula, but there are a few things you can look for when choosing a “better” formula. Options that check all the boxes are slim, so it's important to empower yourself to choose what's most important to you, take a breath, and let the rest go. Remember, you know your baby best!
Whole Milk
the fat in milk is the good kind of fat that you want. If nonfat or skimmed milk is used then you are missing out on great omega-3 fatty acid content, and more. Often times skimmed/nonfat milk will have a higher oil content to make up for the loss fat.
Grass Fed
100% grass fed dairy cows never eat any grain, and their milk has the highest nutritional value - especially Omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acids. The next best option is organic. Organic dairy cows are grass-fed, but only partially. They must have a 30% grass-fed diet, which equates to ~120 days out of the year. The rest of their feed is 100% non-GMO.
Organic, Non-GMO Ingredients
Sweetened with Lactose
no corn syrup, brown rice syrup, maltodextrin, etc.
Lactose is a naturally occurring sugar found in milk (including breastmilk). In addition, it’s a disaccharide sugar made up of 2 sugar molecules: glucose and galactose. Lactose is easily digested and can help promote the growth of beneficial bacteria, as well as help absorb calcium.
Corn syrup is a highly processed sweetener derived from corn starch. It has a higher glycemic index which can cause a quicker rise in blood sugar.
NO palm oil
babies have a hard time digesting palm oil, causing it to become unabsorbed which can effect digestion tracts and bone mass
if you are going to choose a formula with palm oil look for beta palmitate (high 2 palmitic acid) vs palm olein
*It is impossible to find a formula without some sort of oil mixture, as they have to get in essential fats somehow. You can find many formulas with safer oils like coconut and no palm oil, but most will still contain a blend of either sunflower, rapeseed (canola), or soy. I would focus on looking for organic/non-GMO oils, and no olein palm oil.
Why Goat Milk Formula?
Compared to cow milk, goat milk forms a smaller, softer, and looser curd in the stomach which makes digestion quicker and easier. The fats in goat milk are also easier to digest, because they are smaller than cow milk fats.
Goat milk contains more gut-supportive prebiotic oligosaccharides, and has superior mineral bioavailability. It also contains a considerably lower amount of A1 casein protein, which is the most inflammatory casein protein. Many people who have a “dairy allergy,” actually have an A1 casein milk-protein allergy or secondary lactose intolerance due to inflammation - because of this many are able to handle goat milk just fine.
Goat milk is a great option for all babies, but especially those suffering from stomach issues, eczema, recurrent ear infections, reflux, and chronic nasal congestion.
Seed Oils in Formula
It is nearly impossible to escape oils when it comes to formula. Some formulas do contain beneficial oil like coconut, but they are often blended with other oils like safflower, sunflower, soy, canola, etc. in order to best mimic the fatty acid profile of breast milk. They have to get in the essential fats somehow, and these oils are the easiest way to do this while still being able to be somewhat affordable for the consumer.
There are many options available that contain no palm oil, but most will still contain a blend of either coconut, safflower, sunflower, soy, or grapeseed (canola). In these, you can look for oils that are...
organic / non-GMO
high-oleic
unrefined
pressed
Again...you may not be able to find one that checks all the boxes, so remember to empower yourself to choose what's most important to you, take a breath, and let the rest go.
High-Oleic Oils
These oils are high in monounsaturated fats and low in polyunsaturated fats. While not perfect, it is a better option than trans (hydrogenated oil) and saturated fats.
Unrefined Oils
The refining process turns oils into "empty calories" by stripping them of their minerals and antioxidants. Refined oils contain high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and while we need some PUFAs in our diet it is best to consume them through whole foods like sunflower, chia, and flax because they are protected by antioxidants within the seeds. The refining process strips these protectants away, making the PUFAs toxic.
When exposed to heat, pressure, metals, and bleaching agents the molecules are chemically altered into compounds like 4-hydroxynonanal, 4-hydroxyhexanol, and aldehydes which promote free-radical reactions (highly reactive and very unstable) that can damage our mitochondria, enzymes, hormone receptors, and DNA.
Pressed Oils
Pressed oils are extracted using mechanical pressure with minimal heat, where as refined oils use hexane (essentially petroleum) during the extraction process. If no other processing occurs, most times pressed oils are considered unrefined.
*pressed & unrefined oils:
may have to contact the manufacturer directly, as these will most likely not be labeled
Lactose Free Formula: do you really need it?
True Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is caused by the inability to breakdown lactose, which is the form of sugar found in milk (including breastmilk). Typically a true lactose intolerance is due to a genetic condition where a person does not produce the lactase enzyme needed to breakdown lactose. A baby who is truly lactose intolerant would fail to thrive right off the bat, and show other signs of malabsorption and dehydration from birth. It is extremely uncommon for someone without this genetic condition to be lactose intolerant.
Secondary Lactose Intolerance
There is such thing as “secondary lactose intolerance.” This is when irritation or damage to the gut lining can impair the production of lactase. In these cases avoiding lactose acts as a band-aid, it will not solve the underlying problem. Additionally, lactose free formulas must use an alternative form of sugar - typically sucrose, corn syrup, brown rice syrup, or maltodextrin, all of which can cause gut inflammation - which just feeds the fire. In these cases, the health of the gut must be addressed.
Other conditions that may effect the production of lactase include gastroenteritis and parasitic infections. Premature babies also may not make enough lactase for a short time after birth.
How to Test for Lactose Intolerance
Genetic Testing - This test uses DNA from blood samples amplified and digested with restriction enzymes. The pattern of DNA fragments is then used to indicate if a person is lactose intolerant or not.
Hydrogen Breath Test - You will drink a liquid that contains a certain amount of lactose, and every 30 minutes over the course of a few hours you breathe into a balloon-like container that measures the amount of hydrogen in your breath. If your breath hydrogen levels rise AND symptoms get worse during the test, you may be diagnosed as lactose intolerant.
Stool Acidity Test - It is very difficult to perform a hydrogen breath test on a baby, so often times a stool acidity test will be done to measure the lactic acid, glucose, and other fatty acids.
Dairy Free Formula: do you really need it?
Milk Protein Allergy
A milk allergy is the reaction to the protein in milk. In these cases the immune system reacts as though the protein is a dangerous invader to the body. Because of the rarity of true lactose intolerance, either secondary lactose intolerance due to gut inflammation or a milk allergy is most likely going to be the cause of symptoms.
The problem is that many people will automatically move to a dairy free formula option. These formulas are also lactose free and use a different form of sugar like sucrose, corn syrup, brown rice syrup, or maltodextrin - all of which can cause inflammation in the gut.
What most parents don’t realize is that not all animal milk protein is the same. If a baby truly has an allergy to cow milk protein, they typically have no problems with goat milk - which is easier on the digestive system, and a much better option than most lactose free options. Goat milk contains more A1 casein protein, which is much less inflammatory. If someone is having a response to the inflammatory nature of A1 casein protein, then many times they can handle goat-milk, or even A2 grass-fed cows milk. *Protein allergies are very individualized, so this won't always be the case for everyone, but in my opinion it's worth trying before moving onto a completely dairy free alternative.
A note from my midwife when it comes to newborns who may be having a reaction to dairy
"You just gotta wait it out! Babies aren’t born with the right enzymes to digest milk from any other mammal besides humans. Why would they, ya know?! Eventually as their system matures, they typically grow out of it as they develop the ability to digest more things." -Teri Mitchell (Bundle Born Midwifery)
How to Test for a Milk Allergy
Skin Test - This is when the skin is pricked and exposed to small amounts of protein found in milk. If an allergy is present, a raised bump (hive) will appear. However, this test isn’t completely accurate.
Blood Test - This test measures the immune system’s response to milk by measuring the amount of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies in the blood. This test, also, isn’t completely accurate.
Oral Challenge - The medical professional will provide different foods that may or may not contain milk in increasing amounts. They will then observe if you react to the ones that contain milk.
Elimination Diet - This is when the provider will advise the elimination of all dairy from your diet to see if symptoms subside. However, this test can be unreliable because many times symptoms will subside because the over-processed dairy that is widely available is no longer being consumed, decreasing inflammation - giving the false sense that it was due to an allergy and not inflammation due to the junk filled milk.
BREAKDOWN of POPULAR "better" FORMULAS
*bolded formulas I am still waiting to hear back on a response regarding oils extraction methods and/or grass-fed cow status
AUSSIE BUBS (365 Grass Fed)
milk: whole, has a grass fed option (365 Grass Fed)
sweetener: lactose
oils: coconut, high oleic sunflower, soy, canola
oils: their oils are not USDA organic
available on Amazon
BOBBIE (Whole Milk)
milk: whole, grass fed
sweetener: lactose
organic, non-GMO
oils: organic coconut, high oleic safflower and sunflower, rapeseed
oils: expeller pressed, meaning they are pressed (not chemically extracted) but some heat is formed during the pressing. produced without chemical solvents like hexane
available on Amazon
BIMBOSAN (both cow and goat)
milk: non-fat
sweetener: lactose
oils: organic coconut, sunflower, rapeseed
BY HEART
milk: whole, grass fed
sweetener: lactose
oils: organic coconut, high oleic sunflower, regular sunflower, rapeseed
available on Amazon
HiPP
milk: combiotik (skimmed), geitenmelk (whole)
grass-fed, Biodynamic farming (confirmed may be fed food other than grass, but it must meet relevant organic farming standards)
sweetener: lactose (both)
non-GMO, organic
oils: organic palm, rapeseed, sunflower (both)
oils: refined (according to Grow Baby Organic a partnered 3rd party seller; I never got a response back from Holle)
their combiotik "with Metafolin" formula contains folate opposed to folic acid, making it a better option for babies with the MTHFR gene
HOLLE (Goat)
milk: whole
grass-fed, Demeter techniques (confirmed may be fed food other than grass, but it must meet relevant organic farming standards)
sweetener: lactose
non-GMO, organic
oils: organic sunflower and rapeseed
oils: refined (according to Grow Baby Organic a partnered 3rd party seller; I never got a response back from Holle)
I do not recommend their cow formula - it is made with skimmed milk and palm oil
JOVIE
milk: whole, grass fed
sweetener: lactose
non-GMO
oils: organic sunflower and rapeseed oil
oils: expeller pressed, meaning they are pressed (not chemically extracted) but some heat is formed during the pressing. The heat is not extreme, and the oils are tested for oxidation before use
KABRITA:
milks: non-fat, grass fed
sweetener: glucose syrup solids in infant formula (not included in toddler)
one of the only toddler formulas that can be used as an infant formula (meets FDA standards for infant)
not certified USDA organic, but produced in Europe where there are strict regulations limiting the use of antibiotics, hormones, and pesticides
uses palm oil, but they do use high 2 palmitic acid vs palm olein
KENDAMIL (Organic & Goat):
milk: whole, grass fed
sweetener: lactose
non-GMO
oils: organic coconut, sunflower, rapeseed
oils: all are cold pressed
hexane is sometimes used in the extraction of oils in their CLASSIC formula, but NOT in their ORGANIC
LITTLE OAKS
milk: whole, grass fed
sweetener: lactose
non-GMO
not certified organic, but most of their milk is farmed using organic practices
oils: coconut oil, regular sunflower oil, high oleic sunflower oil
oils: all are cold pressed
NANNYCARE
milk: whole, grass fed
sweetener: lactose
oils: high oleic sunflower, rapeseed, regular sunflower
oils: all are cold pressed, but they are refined
non-GMO
PURE BLISS (Similac)
milk: non-fat
sweetener: lactose
oils: coconut, high oleic sunflower oil, soy oil
available on Amazon
SPROUT ORGANIC (plant-based)
rice and pea protein mix
no palm oil
certified organic, non-GMO
sugar content comes from naturally occurring sugars from rice starch
oils: organic coconut oil, canola oil, safflower oil
oils: unrefined and cold pressed
Sold in Australia; you can purchase from their site or from their partnered US third party seller Grow Organic Baby
Sources:
Palm Olein Studies
Koo WW, Hockman EM, Dow M. Palm olein in the fat blend of infant formulas: effect on the intestinal absorption of calcium and fat, and bone mineralization. J Am Coll Nutr. 2006 Apr;25(2):117-22. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2006.10719521. PMID: 16582027
Lasekan, John B et al. “Impact of palm olein in infant formulas on stool consistency and frequency: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.” Food & nutrition research vol. 61,1 1330104. 14 Jun. 2017, doi:10.1080/16546628.2017.1330104
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