European Baby Formula or American Baby Formula, Which is Best?

When searching for the best baby formula for your little one nowadays, you may have come across the increasingly popular talk about European baby formula. Still, you may wonder if it is better than American baby formula and the difference between the two that makes one better over the other. Here is some information over both types of formulas, and you can decide for yourself which is best for your little one and which baby formula you would feel comfortable feeding to your little angel.

Formula Choices

As parents, we are always searching for what’s best for our little ones, and the right baby formula is one of the top priorities on our list. In recent news, European baby formula has become viral among many parents. Some have even switched from the American baby formula to the European baby formula. The main reason being all of the many health benefits offered from birth to later in life. All these health benefits provided by the European baby formula make parents continue purchasing European baby formula for their little one and making it a staple in their newborn’s essentials, especially when preparing for a new little angel. 

Now, as we all know and have heard, breastfeeding is always best for your little one, although, in some instances, this is not possible, so you must look for an alternative and the next best thing. That’s when the baby formula comes into play, and it is imperative to know precisely what you are supplementing your little one with. Baby formula should either replace or supplement breastmilk. So, in this case, a baby formula as close as breast milk would be ideal. Well, let me tell you that European baby formula is designed precisely with that in mind. It’s intended to resemble breast milk in all aspects, making it the best for your little one. 

Higher Standards

To begin, The European Commission is the certifying body that sets requirements for food safety, nutritional composition, and labeling for infant formula and other first foods across Europe. While there are many differences between the two agencies, the European Commission is the most similar to the Food and Drug Administration, also known as the FDA, which governs infant formula production in the United States. Both the FDA and the European Commission are held responsible for providing guidance and issuing approvals before any infant formula can be sold in their respective country. 

The European Commission, just like the FDA, has both maximum and minimal quantity requirements for micronutrients and macronutrients in the baby formula. Both the FDA and the European Commission require a similar composition of protein, fat, and carbohydrates and the inclusion of certain vital micronutrients, such as Vitamin B, Folic Acid, Choline, and Calcium. In addition, the European Commission and FDA require that baby formulas closely mimic the composition of breastmilk to provide a healthy and safe option to promote infant growth. 

Naturally, Lactose

Now while both the FDA and the European Commission both have requirements for what’s included in the baby formula, the European Commission has much stricter guidelines about what sources can be used to meet these requirements. They also regulate additional exclusions, allowances, formula stages, and certifications. For example, all baby formulas include carbohydrates for energy, and these carbohydrates are typically pulled from sugars and starches. The European Commission requires that at least 30% of carbohydrates in the baby formula come primarily from lactose, which is the primary carbohydrate source found in breastmilk. The FDA doesn’t have an exact requirement in the US, and some American baby formulas contain little or no lactose. 

Commonly in European baby formulas, the main ingredient is lactose with no sweeteners or additives, making it as healthy as breast milk. Babies can also easily break down the lactose making it less taxing on their developing pancreas. In European baby formulas, they cannot use and should not contain sucrose or any other preservatives like fructans and pectins.

In comparison, corn syrup and corn syrup solids are often the primary carbohydrates in many American baby formulas. The presence of processed sweeteners in your little one’s baby formula can end up overloading your little one’s system. These sweeteners in your little ones’ baby formula may also lead to diabetes or obesity because of developing a sweet tooth at an early age. 

Sensitive Infant Choices

In addition, another significant difference between European and American baby formula is that European manufacturers are permitted to use goat milk as a base for their formulas. Goat milk formulas are a great alternative to cow milk formula when you have a baby that struggles to digest the larger proteins found in cow milk formula, as goat milk is known to be gentler on little tummies. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, all the hype with European baby formula has not been misplaced as all parents go through the pressure of finding the best formula that is pure with wholesome nutrition and has the ingredients that are closest to mimicking the properties of breastmilk. European baby formula is the best start in life that you can give your little one to supplement them with well-sourced ingredients, as this will impact your little one’s health today and in the future. Now have you asked yourself when babies start to develop sleep habits?