What Are The Differences Between European and American Baby Formula?

Baby formula is a necessity for several mothers wishing for optimum nutrition for their infants. But at times, there can be arguments on the distinctive choices when it comes to European and American baby formulas.

While both the infant nutritional substitutes go through rigorous standards testing under the UK’s respective MHRA and the USA’s FDA, there are key differences in quality control.

There are many nutritional variations that might play a focal role in mothers making the ultimate choice:

There’s a number of differences between EU and US baby formulas and new mothers and families will primarily want to look into:

• Ingredients used in EU vs US bay formulas
• The sources of milk between the two
• What kind of regulations apply to both
• FDA vs Europe rules

What Are The Differences In Ingredients Between EU and US Brands?

Organic ingredients are a must for healthy baby formula. While the USFDA has implemented organic value to factor into baby food, there is major disregard under the absence of proper medical guidelines.

Various American companies factor in artificial sweeteners such as corn syrup and brown rice syrup that hold no nutritional value to the infants.

Additionally, the legality of sucrose as a taste-enhancer in baby-food can have a dire effect on the baby’s future, including obesity and cardiac complications.

European baby food formula, on the other hand, holds its nutritional standard on a pedestal. In 2009, the EU took strict steps to ban the addition of sucrose to baby food, thereby abiding a health code for children’s dietary safety.

These stricter standards deem the European baby formula, trustworthy, and overall acceptable to responsible mothers.

There are prohibitions on genetically-modified ingredients such as corn syrup, used unwisely to factor in carbohydrates content.

According to the European Commission, there must be at least 30% lactose in the carbohydrate contents for the European formula.

Companies such as Holle baby formula follow the proper protocol to factor in nutrients such as organic milk from biodynamic farms. All ingredients from biodynamic farms are devoid of pesticides and genetically-modified additives, making sure to provide children with a natural formula.

The Sources of Milk Between the Two

A mother’s breast milk contains lactose, acting as a natural sweetener that helps babies through the feeding process.

Unfortunately, various USA-based companies add in processed corn syrup to enhance the sweetness. While doing so helps infants through daily milk intake, it can prove dangerous for their blood sugar levels.

Processed sweeteners contain a higher glycemic index, risking the baby’s future with the possibility of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and more.

The European baby formula contains the perfect blend of natural produce. The milk comes from grass-fed cows, raised on biodynamic farms under sustainable environments. The added-whey aids with making the milk’s protein composition similar to that of breast milk.

What kind of regulations apply to both?

The EU and US regulations on baby food formulas differ in terms of health-code and safety.

The Restriction Protocols for EU & the US

The MHRA’s implementation of baby food formula discourages the use of

• chemicals,
• pesticides, &
• flavor-enhancing additives.

These laws protect infants, helping them maintain a proper healthy food regime throughout their maturing period.

The USDA’s organic protocol does not include 100% natural products. There are components deemed “organic” but attributes to the unhealthy aspect of the USA baby food formula. These also include ingredients that are banned throughout the UK.

The Banned and Allowance List

Unlike baby formulas from local brands, UK brands restrain the inclusion of synthetic flavors, including corn syrup that is a staple favorite of the USA formulas.

The natural organic formulas aim towards infants’ gut health by permitting added-prebiotics and pro-biotics, similar to breast-milk contents,

Doing so can help infants to avoid:

• constipation
• digestive issues
• diarrhea
• bloating and gas

European brands utilize minimize palm-oil contents alongside other organic oils for similar fatty-acid contents to breast milk.

USA baby formula, however, consists of palm oil, more than the prescribed amount, leading to gas-related digestive issues in infants at their tender age.

The Carrageenan content in some American formula due to its “organic”, can be the cause of internal inflammation.

These reasons have become catalysts for American mothers to vouch for European baby food formulas for their new-borns.

FDA vs Europe rules

FDA and Europe rulings have similar banning propositions but varied executions. The main differences between the EU and US policies can be found below:

Biodynamic Certification vs. USDA Policy

UK brands such as Holle requires the Biodynamic Certification, by using Demeter ingredients.

This is the largest biodynamic farm, known for its product certification services. The farming practices keep away pesticides, fertilizers, and synthetic substances from their general cattle rearing services.

Therefore organic products are of guarantee from Demeter certified ingredients.

American baby formulas can contain chemical preservatives and lab-made nutrients that are detrimental to a baby’s health. They are also banned under the EU policy.

These include:

• Nucleotides
• I-methionine
• Ascorbyl palmitate
• Lutein & more.

The Bottom Line

The array of nutritional benefits in the European baby formula guarantee a healthy lifestyle for children during their peak growth stage. Therefore, brands such as HiPP, Holle, and more have higher traction over parents wanting the best for their little angles.