8 Best Organic Baby Food Brands of 2023, According to a Dietitian
These are the top organic baby food brands available for your consideration. We have selected these brands based on factors such as USDA certification status, taste, packaging, variety, and overall nutritional value. A registered dietitian from our Review Board has also reviewed this article for accuracy. These brands offer USDA-certified organic products, which means their ingredients are grown and processed according to federal guidelines that monitor various aspects such as soil quality, animal raising practices, pest and weed control, and the use of additives.
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Moreover, unless specified otherwise, the baby food options provided by these brands are BPA-free and do not contain artificial colors or flavors. It’s important to note that both organic and conventional baby foods on the market are regulated for safety and contain ingredients recognized as safe by the FDA.
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Now, let’s take a look at the 8 best organic baby food brands.
Best Overall: Once Upon a Farm, Organic Super Smoothie Variety Pack of 24
Once Upon a Farm is the leading brand on our list of the best organic baby foods. Their baby food blends are renowned for their great taste and are free from added sugars and preservatives. One of the standout features of Once Upon a Farm is their use of cold-pressed technology. Unlike traditional heat processing, they employ high-pressure cold techniques to eliminate harmful bacteria while preserving the food’s nutrients, natural flavor, and texture. Due to this unique process, their products need to be stored in the refrigerator or freezer until consumed.
To cater to the needs of families, Once Upon a Farm offers a convenient subscription and delivery service. This allows customers to select their desired food blends and determine the frequency of their orders. Their product range includes pouches containing fruit and vegetable blends, dairy-free yogurt and smoothies, as well as overnight oats. Additionally, they provide frozen baby meal blends consisting of fruits, vegetables, chia seeds, and cranberry seed oil. These meals can be heated on the stove and served as finger foods for baby-led weaning or mashed up according to preference.
It’s worth noting that certain varieties of their stage 1 products are WIC-approved for eligible families. Moreover, Once Upon a Farm ensures the safety of their products by subjecting them to third-party testing for heavy metals, contaminants, and toxins, conducted by the Clean Label Project.
Advantages:
- Focus on specific foods for brain or immune health.
- Third-party testing for heavy metals and contaminants.
- Some products are approved by WIC (Women, Infants, and Children program).
- Offers subscription and delivery services for convenience.
Disadvantages:
- Products are not shelf-stable and require refrigeration or freezing.
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Best Vegetarian: Cerebelly Broccoli Pear (4 oz, 12 Count)
Cerebelly is a company that specializes in producing a variety of vegetarian and organic baby foods made from farm-fresh ingredients. They prioritize working with local farms in California, Washington, and Oregon to ensure the quality of their produce. Most of their products are vegetarian, although they do offer two varieties that contain chicken and beef bone broth.
What sets Cerebelly apart is its unique development process, led by a practicing neurosurgeon. The baby food is specifically designed to provide nutrient-dense ingredients that promote optimal brain development. Following the principles of the Mediterranean diet, Cerebelly products emphasize natural sources of plant-based proteins, fibers, specific minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids, all of which contribute to neurodevelopment. Additionally, Cerebelly conducts third-party testing to ensure their products are free from heavy metals and contaminants, and they have received a clean label purity award.
While Cerebelly’s product line may be smaller compared to other brands, each option is carefully crafted with intention. They offer products tailored to different age ranges, from 5 months to 25 months and beyond. To assist customers in selecting suitable products for their little ones, Cerebelly provides a short questionnaire that gathers information on the child’s age, developmental stage, and eating habits. Based on the responses, customers can choose products recommended by the company or create customized bundles that cater to their specific needs.
Cerebelly is committed to promoting a healthier environment through their recycling program, which encourages customers to recycle their used plastic pouches. Additionally, through their Brain-Building Box initiative, the company donates a portion of its proceeds to the Baby2Baby Initiative, a nonprofit organization that supports babies and children living in vulnerable conditions.
Advantages:
- Third-party testing for heavy metals and contaminants.
- Offers many vegan and gluten-free options.
- Personalized product suggestions based on child’s age and developmental stage.
- Designed to support brain development.
- Commitment to recycling and charitable donations.
Disadvantages:
- Limited product options compared to other brands.
- Higher cost.
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Best for All Stages: Happy Baby Organics Stage 2 Baby Food Pouches 3.5 Ounces (Pack of 16)
Happy Baby Organics, a brand under the Happy Family Organics parent company, offers a diverse range of organic products designed for babies, toddlers, and kids. With their extensive selection of organic food choices, this brand is an excellent option for those interested in organic eating. Their product lineup includes baby formula, baby cereals, purees, table foods, dissolvable soft solids, snack foods, meal plates, and even teething biscuits.
One of the appealing aspects of Happy Baby Organics is their wide array of flavors. They provide both traditional and more adventurous blends, allowing parents to be adventurous while still having access to familiar options. For instance, they offer savory blends that combine free-range meats with stewed vegetables and quinoa, suitable for babies over 7 months old. They also have advancing texture bowls designed for babies over 9 months, featuring flavors like pumpkin tomato paella and sweet potato coconut curry.
Happy Family recognizes the importance of introducing allergenic foods to babies early on to potentially reduce the risk of allergies. To facilitate this, they have developed Nutty Blends, a line of products that make it easy to introduce peanuts and other tree nuts into the diet. The company ensures that the four products in this line are produced in a separate facility to maintain allergen-friendly standards for their other products. It is advisable to consult a pediatrician before introducing allergenic foods at home, especially if there is a family history of allergies or any concerns regarding their inclusion in the baby’s diet.
A notable advantage of Happy Baby Organics is that some of their jars and pouches are approved for WIC, depending on the state. This is significant because organic products are typically limited in the WIC program, and Happy Baby’s efforts to make these products accessible to all families are appreciated.
Advantages:
- Most products are free from common allergens.
- Offers a line of purees with nuts for safe introduction.
- Certain products are WIC-approved, depending on the state.
- Wide variety of food options for babies and toddlers.
Disadvantages:
- Only certain packaging is recyclable.
- Does not participate in third-party testing for heavy metals (conducts internal testing only).
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Best Budget: Earth Best Organics Baby Food Pouches, Stage 2 (Pack of 12)
If you’re seeking a convenient and straightforward organic option for your family, Earth’s Best Organic is an excellent choice. They offer a range of organic baby food products, including infant formula, baby cereals, dissolvable soft solids, purees, snack foods, and smoothies for toddlers. Despite being on the lower-cost end of organic baby food, Earth’s Best Organic maintains high-quality ingredients. Their early-stage pouches are priced around $1.50 per serving, which is lower compared to other organic baby food brands that can cost $2 or more.
Earth’s Best Organic provides stage 1, 2, and 3 fruit and vegetable-based purees in simple and delicious flavors such as sweet potato, apricot puree, and apple cinnamon oatmeal. They also offer unique savory purees for babies over 9 months, including options like cheesy pasta with vegetables or chicken pot pie. The products are available in various packaging options, including BPA-free resealable glass jars and pouches. Their toddler breakfast line even features frozen pancakes that can serve as teething support for your little one’s sore gums. However, it’s worth noting that some toddler foods from Earth’s Best Organic contain added sugars or sodium.
Earth’s Best Organic has established itself as a trusted brand since 1985, offering an accessible organic option for families. They also cater to specific dietary needs, including gluten-free options for older children and kosher options for babies, toddlers, and kids.
Regarding concerns about heavy metals in baby food, there have been public health concerns raised, with reports indicating the presence of toxic heavy metals like lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury in certain baby food products. However, the data mentioned in the report was collected between 2017 and 2019, prior to the FDA implementing new guidelines in August 2020 to address heavy metals in infant foods. The companies mentioned in the report, including Earth’s Best, have reported compliance with the FDA guidelines and have made efforts to reduce potentially harmful heavy metals in their products. While some companies participate in third-party testing, others rely on internal testing. It is recommended to prioritize variety in baby food choices to minimize exposure to any single ingredient that may contain high levels of heavy metals.
Advantages:
- Offers a variety of textures suitable for different stages of development.
- Provides kosher baby food options.
- Offers a variety of fruit-based and savory options.
- Lower cost compared to other brands.
Disadvantages:
- Some toddler products contain added salt or sugar.
- Does not participate in third-party testing for heavy metals (conducts internal testing only).
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Best Subscription: Little Spoon Organic Broccoli Sprouts Powder, 4 Ounces
Little Spoon aims to simplify the lives of parents, and their approach is evident in their offerings. They deliver pre-packaged, organic, and balanced meals with convenient built-in spoons directly to your doorstep.
Their product lineup consists of BabyBlends, Plates, and Boosters. BabyBlends include 47 different blends categorized into stages 1 to 6, suitable for infants and toddlers. They offer single-ingredient options for babies as young as 6 months and more advanced textures and food combinations for those 9 months and older, like the black bean and farro Cubano bowl.
Little Spoon’s toddler plates are also noteworthy. With 29 options to choose from, these plates are free of preservatives and designed with sectional compartments for appropriate portion sizes. The different sections make it easier for toddlers to identify and self-feed, reducing the chances of feeling overwhelmed or fussy during mealtimes.
In addition to BabyBlends and Plates, Little Spoon provides 11 varieties of cold-pressed organic smoothies, offering convenient on-the-go options suitable for all ages. Their products undergo third-party testing for heavy metals, contaminants, and toxins conducted by the Clean Label Project.
Lastly, Little Spoon offers Booster products, including a powdered food-based multivitamin and a probiotic option. These can be added to other foods or beverages as desired. The company also offers a regular subscription service based on the foods you prefer, making feeding your little one even more convenient.
Advantages:
- Offers a wide range of textures and flavors.
- BabyBlends are kosher certified.
- Third-party tested for heavy metals and contaminants.
Disadvantages:
- Not shelf-stable.
- Not all products are allergy-friendly.
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Best Protein: Serenity Kids 6+ Months Baby Food Pouches
Serenity Kids is aiming to change the perception that pureed meats for babies are bland and unappealing in terms of texture and flavor. Co-founded by Joe and Serenity Carr, the brand offers more than just meat purees and stands out in the competitive baby food market.
As infants’ iron stores diminish around 6 months, it is recommended that parents introduce iron-rich foods as part of their baby’s early diet. Serenity Kids’ meat purees are a suitable choice to address this need. The brand prides itself on using ingredients free from antibiotics, added hormones, pesticides, fillers, GMOs, and common allergens.
Serenity Kids distinguishes itself by using herbs instead of salt and sugar to enhance the taste of their savory offerings. They also offer unique pureed meat options that are not found in other brands. For instance, their wild-caught salmon with organic butternut squash and beet combination enables caregivers to easily introduce fish to their 6-month-old infants. Additionally, the brand provides a specialized picky eater prevention bundle designed to expose young children to different herbs and flavors, with the aim of reducing the risk of picky eating.
Similar to other organic baby food brands, Serenity Kids offers a subscription program to simplify the process of feeding and ordering their products.
Advantages:
- Provides a range of meat textures and flavors.
- Can be stored at room temperature without spoiling.
- Sources animal-based proteins ethically.
- Subjected to third-party testing for heavy metals and contaminants.
Disadvantages:
- Not all products have organic certification.
Best for Flavor Introduction: lil’gourmets Organic & Fresh Veggie-Rich Baby Food
This organic baby food company specializes in offering curated options with distinctive and diverse flavors that can help cultivate an adventurous eater who is open to trying new foods. Their meals are made using USDA organic ingredients and are conveniently packaged in individual single servings.
Customers have the option to purchase meals individually through the company’s website or on Amazon, and they can also choose a subscription plan that includes 16 meals delivered monthly. All of their products are free from added sugar and do not contain any artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. While their selection may be more limited compared to other similar services, the quality of their offerings is exceptional. In recognition of their commitment to clean and transparent ingredients, lil’gourmets has received the Clean Label Project Purity Award.
Surprisingly, young children have shown a fondness for the globally-inspired flavor combinations. Parents appreciate the taste of the meals and value the fact that they are made with clean ingredients. One parent tester noted the freshness of the meals and admired the incorporation of flavors that they typically wouldn’t use when preparing homemade baby food at home.
Advantages
- Unique and globally-inspired flavor profiles
- Free from added sugar, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- Recipient of the Clean Label Project Purity Award
Disadvantages
- Relatively expensive
- Limited selection compared to other brands
Best Powdered: Amara Organic Baby Food – Stage 2 – Oats & Berries
Our team of nutrition experts highly recommends these organic plant-based meals, which come in the form of powdered mix. What sets Amara apart is their method of preparation that avoids repeated high heat processes. By simply adding water, formula, or breastmilk to the mix, you can have a healthy meal ready for your little one within seconds. These pouches are shelf-stable, making them perfect for on-the-go situations, although the preparation process can be a bit messy.
Testers were impressed by the wholesome options provided by Amara. They particularly appreciated the convenience of the shelf-stable pouches and the inclusion of unique superfood combinations like applesauce with maqui berry. Mothers were delighted that they could even use leftover breastmilk to mix in, adding extra nutrition to the meals.
Amara has shared with Good Housekeeping that they take great care in sourcing each ingredient individually. This allows them to work closely with suppliers and implement measures to minimize heavy metal exposure in their food. Additionally, they do not use rice products, additives, preservatives, or ingredients known for their heavy metal content. According to their website, all of their suppliers comply with annual third-party federal requirements and regulations for both heavy metals and organic certification.
Advantages
- Convenient shelf-stable powdered form
- Easy preparation by adding water, formula, or breastmilk
- High-quality organic ingredients
Disadvantages
- Preparation process can be a bit messy
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What to Look for When Shopping for The Best Organic Baby Food
Determining what to feed your child can be a challenging task. Consider the following key factors:
✔️ Ingredients:
Infants usually begin with purees containing a single ingredient and gradually transition to blends with two or more ingredients. However, some brands may incorporate fillers, preservatives, and additives in their products. Always read the nutrition facts panel and ingredient list of the product you intend to purchase.
✔️ Flavors:
Baby food comes in a variety of flavors and packaging options. It’s essential to introduce a diverse range of flavors to develop a balanced palate, and some brands even offer globally-inspired flavors for more variety. However, it’s also good to have some familiar flavors that you know your child will enjoy.
✔️ Cost:
Organic baby food is typically more expensive than non-organic options. Some brands offer savings when purchasing in bulk, while others provide discounts through subscription models. Regardless, it’s important to ensure that the cost of the food fits within your budget.
✔️ Storage:
Certain baby foods are shelf-stable and only require refrigeration once opened, while others need to be refrigerated right from the start. Although refrigerated options tend to be fresher, they may not be the most convenient for busy parents who are frequently on-the-go. Most baby food can be consumed directly from the container, but some varieties require reheating. It’s crucial to review the preparation instructions before making a purchase.
✔️ USDA Certified Organic Label
Including some organic ingredients in a product does not guarantee that the entire product is organic. If it is important to you to provide organic baby food to your child, it is advisable to look for the official USDA organic symbol on the packaging. This symbol indicates that the product contains ingredients that have been grown and processed according to federal guidelines, which cover aspects such as soil quality, animal raising practices, pest and weed control, and the use of additives. By obtaining this seal of approval, the product ensures that it meets the necessary standards.
When it comes to animal-based foods, the USDA organic label signifies that the food is produced without the use of antibiotics or growth hormones. For plant-based foods, it means that the crops are grown without conventional pesticides, fertilizers containing synthetic ingredients, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation.
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FAQs: Best Organic Baby Food
Is organic baby food truly healthier?
According to certain studies, the nutritional profiles of conventional and organic foods of the same type are similar. However, other research suggests that organic produce may contain higher levels of certain antioxidants and lower levels of the heavy metal cadmium.
Ultimately, choosing between organic and conventional baby foods is a matter of personal preference, as both options can provide healthy choices. It’s important to keep in mind that the American Dietary Guidelines prioritize consuming a variety of nutrient-dense foods, regardless of whether they are organic or conventionally sourced.
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Is organic baby food better than conventional?
The USDA’s National Organic Program has established rigorous guidelines for USDA certified organic foods. Products with the USDA organic seal are prohibited from containing GMOs, artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors. Furthermore, research indicates that organic fruits and vegetables have higher levels of antioxidant polyphenols compared to conventionally grown produce. While it is important to encourage the consumption of a wide range of fruits and vegetables at all ages, choosing organically grown produce can offer additional benefits by avoiding GMOs and preservatives.
Do organic baby foods contain toxic heavy metals?
Yes, to some extent, all foods contain toxic heavy metals. This is a concern in our global food supply. Low levels of toxic heavy metals naturally occur in water and soil, and factors such as growth conditions, industrialization, and farming practices can increase their concentration in plant-based foods.
While some research suggests that organic foods may have lower levels of cadmium, it doesn’t necessarily mean they have lower levels of all heavy metals. Organic baby foods do not guarantee a reduced risk or presence of all heavy metals. As always, it is recommended to provide your family with a variety of foods from different sources and purchase from companies that test their foods to ensure safe levels of these metals.
What do the stages of baby food mean?
The stages of baby foods refer to the level of feeding for your child. Stage 1 foods are typically single-ingredient purees and are introduced between 4 and 6 months. Stage 2 begins around 7 to 8 months and consists of multi-ingredient purees that introduce new flavors and textures. Stage 3 is for babies 9 months or older and usually includes multiple ingredients and slightly more texture and complexity that may require chewing. As your child’s oral skills progress, their feeding stage will advance accordingly.
Is it necessary for babies to eat baby food?
Establishing healthy eating habits starts early, but each baby develops at their own pace. Some babies may show interest in solid foods, especially when they observe others eating, while others may show no interest at all.
Once babies show signs of readiness or interest in solid foods, families should consider how they want to introduce these “first foods.” Most babies are developmentally ready for solids around 6 months old. However, before starting the transition, it’s important to ensure that the baby can sit up without assistance, has good head and neck control, opens their mouth when food is presented, and uses their tongue to move food for swallowing.
Between 6 and 12 months of age, babies have increasing nutritional needs for growth and development, in addition to breast milk and/or infant formula. When a baby shows readiness for solid foods, families can decide whether to start with baby food or soft, whole foods. Introducing babies to various flavors, textures, and foods helps establish a positive long-term relationship with food. Whether using puree-textured foods or following the baby-led weaning method is a personal choice.
How can I make my own organic baby food?
Making your own baby food is simple, although it may take some time. To make homemade baby food, you can cook organic produce and blend it with liquid, such as breast milk or infant formula, until you achieve the desired consistency.
Lean beef can be pureed or offered in a baby-led weaning style, focusing on softer varieties to prevent choking. Lean beef is particularly important for babies as it is a natural source of zinc and iron, which are essential nutrients for this age group.
