Lactose
Lactose is a carbohydrate found in breast milk; formulas containing it are much closer to breast milk than to alternative formulas, which a baby may find more appealing.

Every infant produces a lactase enzyme that enables them to digest lactose. It has a lower glycemic index than any refined sugars, which helps good bacteria grow and develop more.

On ingredient labels, keep in mind that lactose is the main ingredient in cow’s milk, and so iit may appear on the label as “organic skimmed milk” or “organic cow’s milk.”

Processed Refined Sugars
Usually, US manufacturers put these into US formulas and are based on corn syrup. Syrup solids, brown rice, or just sugar -all have a high glycemic index and are full of sucrose. These sugars aren’t good for your baby at all and it goes to show that in Europe, formulas containing added sucrose are banned due to obesity fears.

It is incredibly important to check those ingredient labels for any sign of these unhealthy sugars as you don’t want your baby to have any of those.

It is safe to say that none of our formulas contain any added sucrose.

Prebiotics
These are naturally found in breast milk and while they aren’t digested by the baby, they are ‘food’ for the good gut bacteria, otherwise known as probiotics.

This is all beneficial for your baby, as it helps to shift your baby’s microbiome to become like one of a breastfed baby.

In ingredient lists, the common prebiotics is Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) and Fructooligosaccharides (FOS).

Probiotics
As described above, this is the good gut bacteria; they must be part of a healthy baby’s microbiome and are vital - 30% of a breastfed baby’s microbiome is from probiotics naturally found in the breastmilk. The immune response is greatly improved, colic is reduced and eczema is prevented by the use of probiotics.

Make sure the formula you choose contains probiotics; they are found in our HiPP Dutch products. The most common ones you should find on the label are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.

DHA
This is what’s known as a long-chain omega 3 fatty acid. This is vital because it helps with early eye and brain development. It is now a requirement in all European formulas because of the latest research on nutrition. In breastmilk, it is already found, and so formulas with DHA in them are extremely beneficial as when they first start off, babies need more DHA than they can naturally produce themselves.

ARA
This essential fatty acid regulates
inflammation and is important when it comes to generating body signals, and is also found in breastmilk, so formulas containing this ingredient are better to buy. All our OnlyFormula products contain both fatty acids.

Now, let's move on to the not-so-good stuff found in some formulas. Typically, it is the formulas made in America that have the synthetic preservatives in that you wouldn’t want your baby to consume, such as ascorbic palmitate and beta carotene. The National Organic Standards Board frowns upon the use of such preservatives, so you wouldn’t find them in European formulas. They can be toxic for your baby.

When we talk of synthetic nutrients, we mean things such as lutein, taurine, lycopene, L-carnitine, and L-methionine.
Most of these are either purely toxic or have been processed with toxic solvents.

There’s a reason they are banned in Europe; unfortunately, they are
still commonly found in US products.

Many US-made formulas contain synthetic preservatives like ascorbic palmitate and beta carotene. This practice is disapproved by the National Organic Standards Board, and you won't find these preservatives in any European formulas. These synthetic preservatives can be toxic, and are not something you want in your baby's formula.

Synthetic nutrients include lutein, lycopene, taurine, L-carnitine, and L-methionine. Many of these substances are toxic themselves or processed with toxic solvents. They are banned in Europe, but are still commonly found in many formulas made in the US.

Palm Oil
Typically, palm oil has been used in US and European formulas, but it has a tendency to cause digestive issues and gassiness, though it is the lesser of two evils when compared to its main alternative, soy oil. It is typically better than using soy.

Soy Oil
As the main alternative to palm oil, it isn’t associated with digestive issues however it has been linked to severe menstrual cramps later in life, which is why palm oil is regarded as the better choice.