Below is an email I recently sent to a private client of mine. Since the number one question I receive is “What is the safest infant formula?,” I thought some of you might be interested in my analysis of the two safest brands of baby formula, HiPP vs. Holle (both from Europe). Note that whichever formula you choose, you should always use a water filter to remove chlorine (carcinogenic) and fluoride (linked with lowered IQ). (Here’s more on why you should get a filter and which ones I like.)
Dear E.:
So the bottom line is I would recommend Holle formula as the best option, but it’s not without some problems, unfortunately (yet again it becomes clear that nothing can compare with breastmilk). HiPP is superior in a few ways, but I’ll explain why ultimately I would go with Holle below.
Here’s what I considered when researching HiPP vs. Holle:
- Palm oil. Palm oil is an ingredient that a lot of people worry about (suspected to affect bone density), and both HiPP and Holle contain it. However, because they each contain a blend of other oils (like coconut and sunflower), I don’t think the amount is as concerning. They do both also contain rapeseed oil, otherwise known as canola oil, which is also somewhat controversial. It’s worth noting that Baby’s Only doesn’t contain palm oil–but it does contain soybean oil, which I don’t like, so not really a huge win.
- Aluminum issue. The HiPP ready-made formula is preferable to the HiPP powder because the latter has strangely high aluminum levels, although even the ready-man has borderline levels. (I can’t figure out why–possibly because it comes in aluminum pouches (within a cardboard box)). However, in general I actually DON’T like ready-made formulas because they contain soy lecithin (sometimes extracted with hexane…and soy is problematic anyway because of its estrogenic properties). On the other hand, the amount of lecithin is relatively small, and probably worth the trade-off. Note that the HiPP Growing Up milk in powder form actually has much lower levels of aluminum (but you can’t use that until after 12 months, and it does contain soy lecithin. Sigh). Bottom line here is go for ready-made or Growing Up milk if you do get HiPP, but with Holle you don’t have to worry about this.
- LCP oils. The addition of omega 3 and 6 oils in U.S. formulas is controversial because of the extraction methods (super complicated issue so I’ll spare you all the details). HiPP has these added oils, but I suspect the extraction methods are probably required to be cleaner in Europe. Unfortunately, I’ve been unable to get to the bottom of this, so it’s a question mark and potentially another negative for HiPP. And studies show that the addition of the oils doesn’t improve the nutrition for babies anyway, so their absence isn’t really a negative for Holle.
- Organic practices. Both of these companies have been around for more than 50 years, and the dairy products from both come from grass-fed, organic cattle, certainly of a higher quality that anything you get here. Holle farms are certified organic and biodynamic–which I’ll simplify by saying is like organic-plus, with very strict standards from the processing all the way to the packaging. Another point in the Holle column.
- Sugars. All formula has a lot of sugar (breastmilk is naturally quite sweet), and HiPP wins in this category, as it uses lactose as a sweetener, which is the best option (and also the most expensive). Holle uses maltodextrin (a plant-based sweetener), although it seems to use less of it than most American formula brands. And here’s an update from July 2015: Lebenswert is a newish formula under the Holle umbrella. The Stage 1 Lebenswert formula contains lactose instead of maltodextrin, and Lebenswert is now available at here!
- Prebiotics. This is another win for HiPP. Holle doesn’t contain these, and it’s one of the big things found in breastmilk but missing from formula.
Bottom line: Both HiPP and Holle are superior to American formulas, in my opinion. They lack many of the concerning ingredients found in most formula you get here, don’t have white sugar or corn syrup in them, and also skip some preservatives and the carrageenan found even in other organic formulas. If it were my baby, I would probably choose Holle because of the aluminum issues with HiPP–which to me is more concerning than the maltodextrin (the only major downside to Holle). The lecithin, biodynamic farming, and LCP oil issues further put Holle in the lead. And if you choose Stage 1 Lebenswert, you skip the maltodextrin as well.
Stay sane,
200 comments
Jenia
What’s the main difference between stage 1 and stage 2? Do you think it’s ok to go on with Lebenswert stage 1 after 6 months?
Maia James
Hi! Yes, I would recommend HiPP HA over Similac Alimentum…but of course check with your pediatrician!
Allison
I’m just wondering what you think about Hipp Ha? My son is 3 months old and has a milk protein allergy that we found at 2 weeks old (blood in his diaper). I am now on a dairy-free diet and he is breastfed 4 out of 7 days per week, but on the 3 days I work he ends up needing a little formula once my pumped milk runs out. I’m using Similac alimentum although I do not want to! I just came across the hypoallergenic Hipp tonight (although it is sold out everywhere)…I’m excited to know there’s a healthier option!
Melanie
Can anyone help me? I really want to switch to one of these formulas but I don’t know which one. I tried The Honest Company formula with my daughter because it was affordable. At 3 weeks she became so constipated she had bloody stool. My pediatrician recommended we go back to Enfamil Gentlease. She deals with gas a lot. I’ve got her on organic probiotic drops. She is almost 4 months old and I want to get her back on something organic and healthy, but I’m afraid it will be too much for her tummy. I need something with partially digested proteins. That is what my pediatrician is recommending. Does anyone have similar experience? Recommendations?
Maia
I personally would do Lebenswert stage 1 even for that age, but you should of course ask your pediatrician!
Delanie
If using Holle only as a supplement to BM (probably 60-40 BM), which Holle formula would you choose for an 8 mo? I like that the lebenswert bio stage 1 doesn’t have maltodextrin, but is it an issue since it is labeled for 0-6 mo.
Melissa
Hi, there was a worldwide shortage because I was trying for the longest to get this, then I finally found that organicbaby15 are now stocked with it.
Maia James
I have never heard that and I can’t imagine that the quality would be different between countries. I asked my contacts who import these formula and they had also never heard of this.
Melissa
How do you still have this in stock ? I thought there was a worldwide shortage?
Melissa
I keep hearing that the products sold in the uk are different and of a lower grade than the ones sold directly out of Germany ? Any truth to this??