A reader emailed me a few days ago asking which formula is closest to breast milk since she was going back to work and would no longer breastfeed.
My email reply suggested that learn how to make homemade baby formula. While not as good as breastmilk from a well nourished mother, it is the next best alternative and certainly better than any commercial formulas on the market.
This reader emailed back saying that she didn’t have time to make the homemade formula or use a breastmilk donor bank and pressed for a commercial formula recommendation.Â
I responded that I could not recommend any commercial formulas, not even the organic ones. She really needed to find the time to make the homemade formula or have a relative or friend make it for her. The long term health of her baby depended on it!
The reasons for avoiding commercial formula both dairy and nondairy go far beyond the fact that they are highly allergenic concoctions of denatured milk proteins and rancid vegetable oils.
Is soy formula dangerous for a baby too? Absolutely considering that multiple studies indicate the potential for lifelong endocrine disruption and fertility issues.
Here’s another big issue few parents seem to know about ….
Arsenic in Organic Baby Formula
According to reports from researchers at Dartmouth, organic baby formulas contain levels of arsenic six times higher than the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers safe for the water supply.
These high levels of arsenic are due to the inclusion of brown rice syrup, which is the top ingredient in the organic formulas.
Nature’s One, the manufacturer of organic baby formula, wrote in response that their California based supplier of brown rice syrup:
 … uses qualified, world-renowned, third-party, independent lab to test arsenic levels in their organic brown rice syrup. Their testing results report undetectable amounts of arsenic at laboratory testing limits.
Nature’s One went on to say that:
As an organic manufacturer, Nature’s One’s primary concern is the amount of environmental chemicals ingested by infants, toddlers and children. Parents can rest assured that Nature’s One® will test arsenic levels for every lot of organic brown rice syrup and organic rice oligodextrin prior to production.
Who to believe??
Should we believe the researchers who found dangerous levels of arsenic in the organic baby formulas or the manufacturer who insists that undetectable levels of arsenic are in the brown rice syrup they use to manufacture the baby formula.
Best not to try and figure out the truth in this situation and just make your own homemade baby formula with wholesome, natural ingredients.
When food is processed in a factory, there is always the risk of something going wrong even when organic ingredients are used.
For your precious, vulnerable baby, the risk from any factory produced foods is too high. Â Remember the baby that died just a few weeks ago from tainted commercial formula that the mother purchased at Walmart. Â A parent carefully preparing a homemade baby formula in her own kitchen will always be an infinitely better, safer, and healthier choice than anything that is produced in a factory.
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
Source: ABC News, A Hidden Arsenic Source
I am fortunate to have a great source of raw milk in my area, but for those who don’t, Beyond Organic has a great product called Amasi that is wonderful for children. My grandson likes it and it can be given to babies (except the Milk & Honey flavor for obvious reasons). You can find it at http://www.lynnallen.mybeyondorganic.com along with other wonderful products. These foods are grass FINISHED, meaning they are not finished off with grains that may contain GMOs.
Find it here – http://realmilk.com/where.html
We get ours for 5 dollars a gallon and about a 2 cups of fresh butter for 2.50 a pack. It’s awesome. We are getting a cow from them in May. We are very happy to have them.
2 years now my son has only been on grass fed raw milk, and he has not been sick at all since them No vaccines, no pediatricians, just letting real food be is healer.
I am truly hoping that this will wake people up. Even if it isn’t in all baby formula. Too many moms choose to formula feed mostly due to convenience. They want their me time and need their “space”. I’m sorry but when did mom consist of “me” time and space. I have 2 kids at my hips 10 hours a day while homeschooling 3 others, work from home and do house work. The best part of it all is I LOVE IT.
I hope more people would open their eyes that breast is best. Everything in there is enough for the baby.
Lori Wilson – Tell us more. I knew that the Amish farm back East just got shut down for selling raw milk over state lines. But as long as farmers are following the laws, there shouldn’t be any trouble. At least I want ot believe that.
Yup saw this yesterday and freaked out a little bit, since my baby WAS on conventional oganic formula for a few weeks while I was trying to get my milk supply up. Milk supply never came up but I KNOW what’s in my baby’s bottle every day because I make it myself .
Bottom line is who has time for these he said, she said types of news items. Best to be sure and either breastfeed (best IF you are well nourished and healthy) or make a homemade formula with wholesome ingredients from a small local farm.
@Anastasia Good point .. I am skeptical of the research too but someone is lying here .. either the researchers (who funded them? nonorganic commercial formula companies?) or the company that supplies the brown rice syrup to Nature’s One which claims negligible levels of arsenic based on their own test. Hard to know as both sides have a profit motive for deception.
That and the fact that the new FDA Food Czar is a Monsanto Lawyer who just launched a campaign, shutting down raw milk producers…