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
Maia James
My understanding is that the fluoride found in Holle (and other) formulas is the naturally-occurring variety—-from the milk used to make their formulas.
Jennifer
I was looking at the nutrition facts of Holle and there is fluoride in it. Is this safe for babies?
Robert Navarro
Hi Maia,
Since our daughter is only about 8 lbs 11 oz, (and the minimum dosage for the Premium Organic DHA supplement is 1.0 ml for a 10 lb baby) my Pediatrician suggested 0.5 ml. However, we stopped the Premium Organic and went to Hipp Organic First Infant (stage 1) while we are waiting for our shipment of Holle Organic Goat Milk (Formula 1) to arrive. We first tried Baby’s Only Organic (with Hexane-free DHA and ARA) but it really constipated our baby. Then we went to the Premium Organic which did the same. Our Pediatrician suggested Enfamil Newborn (which we tried just to see if her constipation would improve) mineral oil . . . but after a lot of research I bought the Holle Organic Goat which I am really looking forward to getting a hold of. Unfortunately the Hipp Organic has the high aluminum issue or we would stick with it. Our baby seems to love it, and her poop has returned to something resembling what you get with breast milk. For what it’s worth, I agree with you. Holle all the way, and from what I can tell the “Goat Milk” formula is even better!Maia James
Congrats on your newborn! This is a question that I think is best answered by a pediatrician. Would love to hear the advice you receive if you would be willing to share. Thanks!
Robert Navarro
Hi Maia,
Best, -RobertWe just started using the Premium Organic Infant Formula from the Honest company while we’re waiting for Hipp to be back in stock so we can order. I know it does not contain DHA, but they make a supplement you can add to the formula. However, the dosage goes by weight, and it starts at 10 lbs. Our newborn only weighs just over 7 lbs, so I’m not sure how much to give her or if it’s even safe for infants. Do you have any advice?
Rob
It’s terrible that we can’t buy safe infant formula in the U.S.
The ingredients in the U.S. brands are addictive poison. It’s no wonder half our kids are obese in America when we feed babies corn sugar. The FDA should be shut down and replaced for failing to protect the American people. The fact that they actively prevent the sale of safe infant formula brands from Europe is disgusting. The price of doner milk in the U.S. is also disgusting. I can’t believe they declared it a prescription drug so they can control it. Doner milk should be available free from people who wish to donate it so we wouldn’t need to poison our babies with this filth. America really sucks sometimes…Maia James
Ginger, if it’s at all helpful—It’s my understanding that Euro formulas are only not FDA approved because they haven’t sought approval, not because they wouldn’t meet it.
Ginger
Has anyone actually asked your child’s pediatrician about using HiPP/Holle? If so, what was the response? I want to start using one of these for my baby, but my pediatrician has me fill out info about what we’re feeding her at every visit and I just don’t want a lecture about how it isn’t FDA approved.
Maia
I was under the impression that you no longer needed to boil the water when making formula…but I look forward to hearing from some formula feeders on this thread!
Dené
Correction heating the water to 50 degrees Celsius then cooling to 37 degrees Celsius.