I wrote this guide on how to choose the healthiest baby formula in 2012, and have updated it more than ten times since! The great news is that overall, things have moved in a good direction on the formula front.
This 2025 guide will review the current baby formula options, including European baby formulas, goat milk formulas, and the newer American brands. We hope it makes choosing the healthiest baby formula for your baby less stressful. Let’s get to it…
What to Avoid in Baby Formula
When it comes to choosing the healthiest baby formula, it’s as much about avoiding the bad stuff as it is about finding the good stuff. What follows are some of the controversial ingredients and additives that you will find in most baby formula.
Even a few brands that I have deemed Good Stuff contain some of these ingredients–it’s impossible to avoid them all! Some of them are worse than others, but I mention them all here because these are at least worth considering when you are choosing looking for the healthiest baby formula.
Non-Organic Ingredients
An organic label alone doesn’t make a formula healthy, but avoiding any non-organic formula is a good start. Conventional formula likely contains traces of pesticides, milk contaminated with antibiotics or growth hormones, and oils extracted with hexane. Organic baby formula is almost always superior to anything conventional.
Organic baby formula cannot contain GMOs or artificial colors/flavors. Organic baby formula from Europe is even better: it must be free of sugar, corn syrup solids, and chemically-extracted synthetic nutrients. In addition, 30% of the calories in organic European formulas must come from lactose.
In Europe, some formulas are better than organic:
- Demeter-certified formulas means that the cows come from a biodynamic farm. Biodynamic farming prioritizes the environment and humane conditions for their animals. Holle is the only formula we have found with the Demeter certification.
- If you see that a formula is “Bioland certified,” it means that those cows come from a farm that is 100% organic. Nothing produced on that farm can be without organic certification. Lebenswert has Bioland certification.
Bottom line: The healthiest formula brands are without exception organic. Organic brands from Europe will be even better.
Soy
There are a number of problems with soy formula. To start, it must have synthetic l-methionine added to it in order to meet nutrition requirements. This is prohibited in European organic foods because it is produced with like hydrogen cyanide and other air pollutants. This means that there is no such thing as organic soy-based infant formula in Europe.
Soy-based formulas tend to have higher levels of aluminum contamination since soy sucks up aluminum from the soil. Soy formula also contains high levels of plant-derived estrogens (phytoestrogens). In fact, the concentrations of phytoestrogens detected in the blood of infants fed soy formula were shown to be 13,000 to 22,000 times greater than the concentrations of natural estrogens. The effects of this are simply unknown.
Unfortunately, even most dairy-based formulas contain soy oils or lecithin, but it makes sense to avoid soy-based formulas unless a baby has a true dairy allergy. If that IS the case for your child, you can ask your pediatrician about Baby’s Only’s newer Pea Protein formula.
Bottom line: Avoid soy-based formula unless your baby has a true allergy. And most of the healthiest baby formula brands skip all soy ingredients.
Palm Oil
Palm oil or palm olein are commonly added to formula to help replicate the high palmitic acid content of breastmilk. But the structure of the fat molecules in palm oil (and other vegetable oils) is different from that found in breast milk, and the fats are digested differently.
A lot of parents want to avoid palm oil (and palm olein) because it’s been shown to inhibit the absorption of calcium and fat. But there is an important caveat here. Plant-derived fats that match the structure of the most common fat molecules in breast milk have been shown to promote more healthy bacteria in the gut and reduce constipation.
Among the formulas we recommend, Kabrita is currently the only one that explicitly adds these more beneficial structured triglycerides (OPO/high SN-2 palmitate). A few others--Kendamil, Nara, ByHeart--increase SN-2 palmitate naturally via whole-milk fat/MFGM, but do not add OPO.
Bottom line: With the exception of Kabrita, we prefer brands that skip palm oil.
Carrageenan
You will find this additive in tons of stuff in your health food store, and infant formula is no exception.
Derived from seaweed, carrageenan helps stabilize liquid formula, but numerous animal studies suggest that it leads to intestinal inflammation. The European Union has outlawed the use of carrageenan in all infant formula. In the United States it appears in the ready-made varieties.
Bottom line: None of what we identified as the healthiest formula brands contain carrageenan, so this is one you don’t have to worry about if you shop only from our Good Stuff list!
Synthetic Nutrients
There are many synthetic nutrients that you will find in baby formulas, mostly because the FDA mandates the inclusion of 29 of them. The following four nutrients are NOT required to be in baby formula sold in the U.S., and we believe the potential harms of may outweigh the potential benefits:
- Lutein is hexane-extracted from marigolds. This is found in human milk, but there are not studies to show that it is beneficial when added to formula.
- Lycopene is produced with toluene, a neurotoxic benzene derivative. Again, you’ll find lycopene in human milk but we have no studies showing it’s benefit when added to formula.
- Taurine is processed with carcinogenic sulfuric acid. Studies have not shown any benefit to adding taurine to formula.
- L-carnitine is banned by the National Organic Standards Board because of concerns over carcinogenic properties. As of February 2020, the European Union requires infant formula to contain this nutrient. (The reasoning: L-carnitine is naturally present in breast milk, and infants with a deficiency can develop a variety of disorders.)
One form of synthetic nutrient that we think is worth including in formula is nucleotides. These will show up on the label as long chemical names that end in “-monophosphate.” Studies show that these nutrients lead to increased blood levels of several polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are critical for brain development, as well as increased infant weight gain and head growth. Many–although not all–of the healthiest baby formulas contain nucleotides.
Bottom line: We like to see the addition of nucleotides in infant formulas. Conversely, the healthiest baby formula will skip l-carnitine, taurine, lycopene, and lutein.
Skim Milk
Some of the healthiest baby formulas (see below, under Good Stuff) do contain skim milk. Still, we like to see whole milk on formula labels–the more the better!
Using whole instead of skim milk means that formula manufacturers can add smaller amounts of vegetable oils to achieve the necessary fat content. Better yet, whole cow’s milk contains milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), which may confer brain-immune-gut benefits.
October 2024 update: Bobbie just released new whole-milk version of their popular baby formula.
Bottom line: The brands we consider the very healthiest baby formula will contain at least some whole milk.
Sugars
Breast milk is naturally very sweet, so even the healthiest baby formula contains a lot of added sugars. But the type of sugar really matters.
The sweetener that most closely mimics that found in human milk is cow milk lactose, but this is expensive. Some manufacturers instead use cheaper plant-based sweeteners, such as:
- Sucrose, which was banned by The European Union in 2009 (except for babies with allergies), because of concerns of over-feeding and subsequent obesity. The FDA provides no such regulation on what kind of sugars can be used.
- Maltodextrin, which can be made from rice, corn, or potatoes. Even some organic baby formula brands choose maltodextrin as a sweetener, since it’s cheaper than lactose and helps powdered formula dissolve quickly.
- Glucose syrup solids, which is just a clever name for corn syrup.
- Brown rice syrup, which may be contaminated with arsenic. In 2012, Dartmouth researchers raised concerns about formulas sweetened with brown rice syrup after finding that they contained six times the EPA’s safe limit for arsenic. (More on arsenic in baby food here.)
Bottom line: I’m not a big fan of maltodextrin, but I do feel that it’s better than white sugar or corn syrup. The best baby formula brands contain only lactose as a sweetener.
Ranking the Healthiest Baby Formula Brands
We’ve ranked 32 brands of baby formula, with the majority actually being what we consider Good Stuff! (This is a HUGE change for the better.)
You might be wondering what makes a brand Good Stuff rather than just Okay.
To make our Good Stuff list, a cow-milk formula brand must:
- Be organic;
- Contain added whey;
- Be sweetened with lactose instead of maltodextrin or corn syrup.
You should feel good feeding your baby any of these–they are the healthiest baby formula brands in the world. Some of the brands on our Good Stuff list go even further:
- Bubs, Bobbie, ByHeart, Happy Baby, and Nara all have Clean Label Project certification.
- Baby’s Only, Holle toddler, and Serenity formulas use A2 milk.
- Bubs cow and the Dutch and German versions of HiPP contain probiotics (many other brands contain only prebiotics).
- ByHeart, Holle, Nara, and Serenity use milk from grassfed cows.
Where to Buy European Baby Formula
Some of the best baby formula brands come from Europe. Organic European formula isn’t allowed to contain sugar, corn syrup solids, and chemically-extracted synthetic nutrients (none of this is true for organic formula in the U.S.) Moreover, European food standards are among the strictest in the world, and the EU updates regulations every few years based on the most recent science.
Organic Formula 24, based in Germany, is where we would buy European formula if we were shopping for our own babies.
Healthiest Baby Formula: Other Things to Consider
When you’re searching for the healthiest baby formula for your infant, it’s easy to fall into a ton of different rabbit holes. You’re going to hear about things like whey/casein ratio and A2 milk. Let’s look at some of the factors worth considering when you’re looking at the best formula brands.
Whey/Casein Ratio
In an attempt to mimic real breast milk, formula manufacturers engineer their products to have a specific whey/casein ratio. Not sure what whey and protein are? Here’s the deal:
- Whey proteins stay in liquid form in the stomach (when exposed to stomach acid)—think the watery whey that separates in a container of natural yogurt–and exit the stomach more quickly. Whey proteins are therefore easier to digest and are rarely a source of allergies.
- Casein proteins form solids in the stomach (like cheese curds) and empty at a slower rate. They are more likely to cause digestive issues and be a source of allergies.
There is controversy over the optimal whey/casein ratio for a baby formula because the ratios found in breast milk change over time. Whey content is high in early lactation (with a ratio of about 90:10), and by late lactation, whey and casein protein amounts are roughly equal.
Goat milk and cow milk both have a whey to casein ratio of about 20:80. Manufacturers add whey protein to their formulas to adjust this ratio.
So what is the optimal whey/casein ratio? This depends on factors such as how old your baby is (in other words, how developed his/her digestion is), whether your baby has any digestive issues (like reflux, which may be a reaction to too much casein), and whether your baby is sensitive or allergic to casein.
We also don’t really know how much of the whey and casein added to formula actually ends up being assimilated. It’s definitely worth having a conversation with your pediatrician about which formula has the right ratio for your baby, although in many instances the whey/casein ratio isn’t an issue you need to worry about. Most babies do fine on standard formulas.
Bottom line: Because human milk is so rich in whey, we prefer formulas that add it. The best formula brands almost always do.
Prebiotics & Probiotics
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria, and prebiotics are food for probiotics. You probably already know that good gut bacteria is key to healthy immune function.
Breast milk has natural prebiotic properties, such as its oligosaccharide content. The act of breastfeeding also introduces lots of healthy bacteria to the breastfed infant’s microbiome. In an attempt to mimic human milk (and ride the wave of current health trends!), many formula manufacturers now add prebiotics and probiotics to their products.
There’s little research to suggest that this offers any real benefits, and the American Association of Pediatrics doesn’t officially recommend it. Still, the addition of pre- and probiotics are almost certainly not harmful to healthy babies.
Bottom line: Even though many of the healthiest baby formula contains pre- or probiotics, I probably wouldn’t rely on this as an effective supplement (mostly because of dosage and quality/viability of the organisms). Parents who are interested in supplementing with probiotics should choose a high-quality product like this one from Bobbie.
Aluminum in Infant Formulas
Unfortunately, it seems like high aluminum content in formulas is pretty much ubiquitous (studies confirm this in UK and Canadian markets, and there is no research done yet on formulas in U.S. market).
It’s not clear exactly why this is, but there are a variety of modes of potential contamination: raw materials (powdered milk may have aluminum added to prevent clumpiness, for instance), additives (like phosphorous), and manufacturing processes.
It’s important to note that a lot of healthful foods we eat contain more aluminum than any of the formulas in this study–including fish, spinach, and many types of tea. I’m not convinced that the amount in formula is something worth worrying about.
We also don’t know is how much of the aluminum that’s ingested ends up accumulating in the body of infants and toddlers. In adults, most aluminum is excreted, but what remains does accumulate and can cause problems in the long term.
There’s little that consumers can do about aluminum in formula, except for:
- Choosing breastmilk if possible.
- Avoiding soy-based formulas, as these tend to be highest in aluminum.
- Preparing powder formula with a silicon-rich mineral water—in the U.S., Volvic and Fiji water fit the bill. Experts believe that this could reduce the absorption of aluminum across the gut of the child and also potentially help the child to excrete aluminum in the body via the urine. However, these are areas which are also being researched.
A2 Milk
You will see that some of the best formula brands in our lists above contain “A2 milk.”
Here’s the deal: Cow milk has two primary types of proteins–A1 and A2 beta-casein. More studies are needed, but there is some evidence to suggeste that A2 milk is easier to digest and less likely to cause inflammation than is A1 milk. The strongest evidence is around lactose intolerance–studies suggest that milk with A2 protein is much less likely to cause gastrointestional distress.
Among the healthiest baby formula brands, four contain A2 milk: Aussie Bubs, Baby’s Only, Serenity, and Holle. Also, goat milk contains that A2 protein, so this is part of the reason it may be more digestible.
Bottom line: We think A2 is probably better than A1 milk for babies, and some–but not all–of the best baby formula brands include it.
DHA/ARA
DHA and ARA are long chain fatty acids found naturally in human breast milk, which make up the major long chain fats in baby’s brain and nerve tissue.
We know that naturally occurring oils from food, food-based oils, and mom’s diet (in breast milk) is highly beneficial. However, it’s not clear that these benefits are enjoyed when DHA and ARA are added to formula. Still, most formulas now boast the addition of essential fatty acids DHA and ARA.
The most common types of DHA and ARA extracted by the solvent hexane, a known neurotoxin, although the hexane is removed from the formula after it’s been processed. There are other methods for extraction, but these are relatively new and the jury is out on whether they are harmful, beneficial, or of no consequence at all.
If you choose a formula without DHA added, but want to supplement on your own, this is the brand we like.
Note that all European formulas are now required to contain DHA, and that organic oils in European formula cannot be hexane-extracted.
Bottom line: We think there’s no downside to the addition of DHA/ARA in formula, and most of the best formula brands have choses to add it.
BPA in Formula Cans
Good news: there is one thing you no longer have to worry about when buying formula, and it’s BPA. The FDA has finally gotten with the program and banned BPA from formula container linings. Of course, I worry about what’s being used in place of BPA, but still this is a small victory!
Healthiest Baby Formula FAQs
What is the closest formula to breast milk?
Needless to say, I’m pro-breastfeeding. I have only two kids, but I breastfed for a total of 7 years, so you can do the math. But of course I also know amazing parents who formula feed their (very healthy!) children.
Every formula brand claims that their nutrient blend most closely mimics breast milk. Based on our research process, we think that ByHeart, Kabrita, and Nara get the closest.
What’s the best hypoallergenic baby formula?
Some babies, like those with milk protein allergies, need a hypoallergenic formula. Sometimes called “gentle,” these formulas contain hydrolyzed proteins, which means that they are broken down and more digestible.
Many pediatricians recommend Pregestimil or Nutramigen (both by Enfamil) or Alimentum (by Similac). If forced to choose between these, I would go for the Alimentum since it skips the carrageenan and corn syrup. But I can’t call any of these Good Stuff since all three contain ingredients of concern and none is organic. Nutramigen is probably the very worst of these, comprised of 48% corn syrup solids!!
If it were my baby, I would choose HiPP HA organic baby formula, which contains no sugar, corn syrup, or maltodextrin, and is full of good prebiotics. You also might want to try HiPP Anti-Reflux formula if your baby has a sensitive stomach. It’s made with 100% whey and no casein to prevent reflux.
If you want an American brand, Bobbie Organic Gentle is the only one that is sweetened with just lactose.
Please check with your pediatrician first if you suspect an intolerance or allergy.
Can you give an infant a “toddler” formula?
I know many parents who have chosen to feed their infants a “toddler” formula. Most toddler formulas contain the 29 key nutrients that are required by the FDA for infant formula. Some of these are the best formula brands out there but are not marketed as infant formula because the brands haven’t completed the infant feeding studies. A few notes on this country’s formula rules and regulations, by the way:
- The recipe requirements are from the Infant Formula Act of 1980 (which I believe is in desperate need of an update!).
- Infant formula certification requires multi-year and multi-million dollar feeding studies.
- Thus, there is a huge barrier to entry for innovative companies or smaller brands. ByHeart is one of the few brands who did their own study. (More on them in this post.)
- In early 2022, the FDA recalled brands (e.g., Similac, Alimentum and EleCare) after babies drinking these formulas became ill. This was nearly 6 months after the FDA found out but failed to act on the information. In March of 2022, the FDA finally shut down the facility producing these formulas, which lead to a formula shortage.
Again, ask your pediatrician to review the nutrition label on any formula you’re considering.
Where is American baby formula made?
Almost all infant formula sold in this country is produced by just four manufacturers:
- Mead Johnson (Enfamil)
- Abbott Nutrition (Similac)
- Nestlé (Gerber)
- Perrigo (Bobbie, Earth’s Best, generic formulas for many grocery chains)
ByHeart is made in the U.S. in its own factory, and Nara is made in Germany but FDA-approved.
Should you use filtered water for baby formula?
Yes! Tap water may be contaminated with chlorine byproducts, weed killers, insecticides, solvents, lead, BPA, phthalates, PFAS…the list goes on. Fluoride is present in infant formula, and when combined with fluoridated tap water, infant exposure levels can exceed safe amounts. I think everyone should invest in a good water filter, but especially if you have a formula-fed baby in your home.
What is the safest baby bottle?
Here is a cheat sheet to help you choose the safest bottle for your baby, whether you are breast- or formula-feeding!
Should I consider a goat milk formula?
Yes! Goat milk may be more similar to human milk because it contains A2 beta-casein protein. For an in-depth look at the pros and cons, check out our post about goat milk formulas.
660 comments
darrick
hi,
i was wondering if there is anywhere i can get some samples of Hipp, lebenswert or holle for my 4 month old boy. my wife is worried that her breastmilk supply is start to decrease and that we won’t have enough milk to feed him. We both want to give him the best natural and organic formula there is if we do have to supplement formula with breast milk. We tried happy baby over the weekend and he didn’t like it one bit and for shits and giggles we tried some slimac organic which my sister had on hand and he did like that. We don’t want to give him slimac unless that’s the last resort. That’s why we are hoping to find some samples of hipp and lebenswert to see if he will like it before we have to stick to slimacLaura
Maia,
Thank you so much for all your product guides! I cannot tell you how much you have helped me in choosing everything from nipple balm, to dish-soap, to our family’s first crib mattress. I just have a couple of questions regarding the hypoallergenic Hipp formula: -You mentioned that the powdered form of Hipp contains high levels of aluminum; does that mean you would not recommend using Hipp HA in its powdered form (I ask because it is proving VERY difficult to purchase the liquid form from here in the US)? -What are your thoughts on the different Hipp HA formulas: PRE HA, HA 1, and HA 2? My daughter, Willow, is now 7 months old, and I’m just not sure what the best option is for her. What is up with the starch, for instance? Thank you in advance for any response you might have! Laura Sarasota, FL.Cecile Vaughan
Another important factor to consider is grans of protein per 100mls. To mimic breastmilk it needs to be quite low. However a formula such as bellamy’s has 1.7gm per 100mls which is significantly higher than most conventional brands. I wonder if you looked at this and considered it in your recomm./findings.
Layla
Hi! Would you recommend baby’s only or plums organic? If you had to choose a formula sold in US. Or is there a better formula sold in stores in most US stores? Also was wondering you had a review on bottle sterilization machines on which one is best? Thanks so much, I’m due in Jan so just want to get everything ready. So thankful for you and your blog. It helps moms like you don’t even know (:
Erin
I typically respect your work as it is very difficult navigating what is truly safe and healthy for our families and I appreciate anyone who is truly trying to help others in the journey. However your comments regarding the ‘precautionary principal’ have me confused on your actual views, and make me question if I should continue to trust the information you provide. For reference, this is the passage I find bothersome:
“To gain deeper insight into the formula manufacturing industry, check out an article written by Charlotte Vallaeys, who is the Director of Farm and Food Policy at The Cornucopia Institute. Her article was immensely helpful as we worked on this Guide. And while I really trust and respect her work, the tenor of her perspective tends to be more alarmist and she is more heavily on the “precautionary principle†side of the spectrum (versus “ingredient is innocent until proven guilty†approach), which isn’t always practical.” I do not know Ms. Vallaeye ,however you seemsto insinuate that you do not agree with the precautionary principal, which she apparently follows. And you claim is is not ‘always practical’. To say something isn’t (always) practical gives the impression you think someone who does it is foolish. I believe a more appropriate term is “inconvenient” because it is never impractical to do your best to protect yourself and your family from potential threats. However poor US regulations certainly have made it inconvenient for an American to simply try and be healthy and raise healthy family. And yes there are times- as an individual having to live within our means- we have to ‘give in’ and say, let our children be exposed to plastics at public schools. Or maybe we can’t afford to buy ALL our food organic but we get as much as we can and maybe give that to our kids while we eat conventional. Maybe I’m misunderstanding what it means to actually practice the ‘precautionary principal’ but I thought it was about practicing it to the best of your ability, which may not be perfect but it certainly isn’t foolish or impractical. And it does surprise me that you would have that view (if you do) because it seems to completely go against the point of your website. I stopped following another healthy living blogger because she made the ignorant comment that “humans are always more important than nature” when humans- like all lifeforms-are a PART of nature, so it’s only logical (not even mentioning the moral side of it) to keep our planet healthy if we want to be healthy. It was really disappointed she turned out to be like that and again I had to navigate the web trying to find people and information that went with my principals and I could truly trust, because it’s difficult enough navigating food labels and finding ingredients in non food items. I know we are all responsible for our own education and choices, but that is exactly what I am trying to do-find credible information to help me make the best choices I can for myself and future children.So if you could clarify your position on the precautionary principal I would appreciate it, so I can decide if your website is a good fit for me. Thank you in advance for reading my comments and concerns.