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
Dené
Thank you for the in depth evaluation of these products. Using holle stage 1 and own a three step water filter (thanks gimmethegoodstuff). What is the deal with the instructions for boiling the water? Does this have to be done? and why or why not?
brenna ferwerda
I just received my Hipp infant formula in the mail and read the ingredients and nutrition facts and was shocked to see that it contains FLUORIDE!!! Beware…..
I am so disappointed?
Maia James
Hi Alder-
That would be a question for your pediatrician, but if it were my baby and he/she were a healthy weight, I wouldn’t be concerned.
Alder
I used hipp with my 14 month old, but because of aluminum concern, I’m thinking of trying the lebenswert. I’ve read that it has less fat content though. Should this be cause for concern?
Mommy Maria
I’m sorry but there is a lot of confusion on this site about Holle and HiPP. Both of these formulas are excellent, both sourced from organic European farms and both of these EU certified organic companies know exactly where their raw materials are derived. In fact, HiPP contracts with a very large network of European farmers, for example, that are all required to abide by the same EU organic standards.
Regarding the aluminum issue, this need to be corrected for parents. Aluminum in infant milk (and it is in ALL infant milk, aluminum is in almost all of our processed foods in small traces) is derived from the actual soil on which cows feed. It’s found in the earth’s crust and depends on the age of soil. This study only measured certain brands, did not measure Holle, and is only a single snapshot of one particular box from one particular cow. It doesn’t mean that all the formula contains the same levels. It certainly doesn’t mean that one brand of baby formula has more aluminum than another because of this. There is a very good and extensive review of the study that parents should have access to: http://hippformulausa.com/hipp-formula-aluminum-study/ Both of these formulas are excellent substitutes to US national brands? Why? Because they don’t contain artificial additives. It’s really that simple. We’ve had our baby on HiPP for over a year. When we switched from Enfamil (which I thought was the best found here) to HiPP, she changed completely. No more colic, no more digestive problems. Her poop turned yellow again. All I can tell parents is, don’t get caught up in the banter. Try it and see for yourself!Maia James
Sarah-I don’t think biobaby24 is legit. I wouldn’t order from them.
Sarah
Hi, can you tell me where “blobaby24” is? I’m trying to find it but don’t see anything on it. Thanks!
Chad
Hi,
All of the vitamins and some of the minerals are synthetic in the Holle and HiPP formulas. Same case for all USA baby formula. Has anyone asked these companies if these vitamins and minerals are NOT coming from China? This is critical as most vitamins and minerals for any supplement come from China which is a quality concern. I also saw some concerns with Martek’s DHA/ARA ingredient. YES! Do not purchase products with that ingredient. The company is not transparent on the entire manufacturing process. Cornucopia Institutes review on this ingredient is accurate and a good read if interested. -Chad (supplement insider)Tiffany
Steph, could you please provide a link to the article that speaks to that point? (i.e. it specifies that the high aluminum levels are for the HIPP soy based formula and that the powdered milk based formula actually had one of the lowest aluminum levels)
I just bought a lot of Hipp formula before coming across the aluminum issue. Thanks.Maia James
Hi Steph! Thanks for pointing this out! Can I ask where you are buying the HiPP you use?