Mommy Goes Green

Occasionally, I have needed to supplement nursing with formula and have been researching organic options.  Surprisingly, there are several manufacturers of organic baby formula and it is not necessarily more expensive than conventional formula.

When picking out any formula – organic or conventional, here are some things to consider:

• can lining – some infant formula cans are known to be lined with metal that contains BPA 
• sweeteners – does it contain corn syrup or sugar?
• palm olein oil – studies have shown infants absorb less fat and calcium from a formula containing palm olein oil
• hexane processed DHA/ARA – there is some concern that the processing of DHA/ARA may cause adverse reactions in infants – more details at The Smart Mama - see below for edited comments
• avoid liquid formula in metal cans – the cans are lined with an epoxy containing BPA and have tested to leach BPA

Nature’s One Baby’s Only Organic – In soy, dairy or lactose-free versions, Baby’s Only was the first organic formula on the market and is certified organic by OneCert.  It is labeled as a ‘toddler formula’ but that is because the company wants to encourage breastfeeding as it does meet the FDA nutrition requirements for infant formula. It does not contain DHA and ARA but does contain Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA) and Linoleic Acid (LA) which are two essential fatty acids used by the body to make DHA and ARA.  Baby’s Only does not contain any sweeteners, palm olein oil or hexane processed DHA.  The canisters and lids are uncoated so they are BPA free however the metal top contains an epoxy-based interior coating that may contain trace amounts of unreacted BPA.   $9.92 per 12.7 oz can.

Similac Organic - Similac Organic is USDA certified organic and contains both DHA and ARA.  It doescontain organic sugar and hexane processed DHA but is free of palm olein oil.  Similac has both the traditional can of formula and the SimplePac, a plastic tub made with polypropylene which is BPA Free (although SafeMama reports that Similac couldn’t confirm that ALL parts of the container are BPA free, the powdered formula itself tested BPA free).  $29.99 per 23.2 oz SimplePac or $24.99 per 25.7 oz can.

I’ve confirmed that the following 4 organic infant formulas are all manufactured by PBM products.  According to Joan, a nutritional support specialist with PBM, “Each one is made for a specific retailer and while they are nutrientionally comparable, there may be slight differences in there formulations.”  In a separate email, “bisphenol-A (BPA) is a known functional component in the manufacturing process of the current packaging used for PBM infant formula products.”  They added that they are currently researching alternative packaging.

Earth’s Best Organic - In soy or dairy, Earth’s Best is USDA certified organic and contains both DHA and ARA.  It does not contain any sweeteners but doescontain palm olein oil and hexane processed DHA/ARA. $27.79 per 25.7 oz can.

Parent’s Choice Organic -  Sold at Wal-Mart, Parent’s Choice is USDA certified organic and contains both DHA and ARA.  It does not contain any sweeteners but does contain palm olein oil.

Vermont Organics – In dairy or soy, Vermont Organics is USDA certified organic and contains both DHA and ARA. $24.99 per 25.7 oz can.

Bright Beginnings Organic – Bright Beginnings Organic is USDA certified organic and contains both DHA and ARA.  It does not contain any sweeteners but does contain palm olein oil and hexane processed DHA/ARA.    $24.99 per 25.7 oz can.

If you use formula several times a week or more regularly, it may be a good idea to buy formula in 6 or 12 packs.  All of these formulas come in bulk and most with some cost savings over purchasing individual cans. 

NOTE: All the formulas listed above meet the FDA Nutrition requirements for infant formula.

EDITED 05/18/2010: The government has banned the hexane processed DHA/ARA in organic infant formulas.  For more info, go here: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=10491711.  As of today, the only organic formula without this type of DHA/ARA is Nature’s One.

Read more…

Our budget doesn’t allow us to purchase organic foods 100% of the time but I have found a few key ways to include them in our diet.   I’ve also prioritized the items for which I feel most strongly about purchasing organic ( milk, meat, and produce ) and those which I can live without for budget sake ( examples: cereal, bread, and snacks ).  That said, with a few of my favorite budget shopping tips below, I oftentimes am able to purchase organic snacks and cereal for the same price as the non-organic options.

1.  Buy in bulk - Winco, a large West Coast supermarket, has a large bulk section.  They have multiple organic options such as organic sugar and whole wheat organic spaghetti.  Costco and Sam’s Club also carry organic items – milk, sugar, snacks, to name a few.  You get a higher quality product at a reasonable price and less packaging.

2.  Shop outlet grocery stores - Look for ‘grocery outlets’ or ‘canned food stores’ as these stores carry bargain and close-out food items.  I visited my first grocery outlet two months ago and was pleasantly surprised that my trip was not wasted.  I found organic snacks, frozen meals ( Annie’s Burritos, for example ), canned diced tomatoes, cereals, and drinks, all at affordable prices.  The cereal was $1.99 – 2.99 per box, Hansen’s 6 pack of natural soda was $1.99 and organic milk boxes were 3/$1 ( great for traveling ).

3.  Find a farm – One way we’ve managed to eat organic meat is by purchasing a cow!  Don’t worry, you won’t have Bessie eating grass in your backyard.  Each year, we partner with 2-3 other families ( depending on the size of the cow ) to purchase a cow and all the meat is split ( evenly as possible ) amongst the families.  For our family of 3, it’s enough meat for the entire year, at the cost of about $250-300 per family ( depending on the size of the cow ).  To find a cow, start by asking around – someone you know might know a farmer.  Call local farms, butcher shops, or extension offices at your local university.  Ask around at your local’s farmers market.  I’ve even seen postings on Craigslist.

4.  Grow your own – Growing your own produce is an inexpensive way to eat organically.  It’s also a great way to get your kids interested in veggies.  Last summer my daughter came to love cherry tomatoes – she would go out each day and eat them like candy.  There are lots of fruits and veggies to grow – for prioritizing, check out ‘pesticides in produce‘ first.

5.  Coupons – Coupons are not as easily accessible for organic food but they do exist.  The easiest way to find them is to go to the websites of the companies that you like and print coupons from their website.  Sign up for their newsletter as well as they will likely send coupons in those, as well.  For the month of April, Go Organic for Earth Day, is offering free coupon books for organic groceries at select grocery stores – enter your zipcode to find a store near you.

Mom’s are resourceful – how do YOU shop for and eat quality food on a budget?

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