Probably the most confusing time for new parents is the time of introduction of solids to their baby’s diet. Where to start? What to buy? How to serve? Adding to that confusion is the multiple choices of baby products available in the grocery stores and online. Pediatricians recommend to start from baby rice cereal mixed with formula or breast milk. Here the confusion kicks in again. Which baby rice cereal to buy? Is Gerber baby rice cereal better than Beechnut baby rice cereal? What is the difference between them if any? In this baby cereal review we compare Gerber rice cereal with Beechnut rice cereal in order to help you answer some of these questions. Based on the input from many moms we review the texture, taste, ingredients and convenience factors in our review.

Each category is assigned evaluation number in the scale from 1 to 5, 5 being the best and 1 the worst.

Texture

Both Gerber and Beechnut rice cereals for baby resemble potato flakes and look very paper-like processed food. Gerber cereal is more flaky than Beechnut cereal. Both are quick dissolving dry flakes for the convenience of busy moms: all you have to do is to pour some cereal into the bowl, add some formula or breast milk to it, mix and serve. Now, how much of that cereal and how much of liquid to pour might be confusing at the beginning. If it is your baby’s first solids eating experience, mix one tablespoon of rice cereal with 4 tablespoons of formula or breast milk. Rice cereal will become very runny. Since your baby is not used to solids, this liquid texture if perfect, closely resembling liquids that your baby has been consuming so far. Gerber rice cereal is easy to mix and in seconds becomes smooth and ready to feed. Some of moms, however, point out that Beechnut rice cereal is harder to mix and often forms lumps. One of the reasons for lumpiness might be the age of cereal. If you store an open box of Beechnut cereal for more than a month it might become harder to mix and lumpy. Once mixed with breast milk, formula or water, Gerber cereal stays longer of the same texture than Beechnut rice cereal. It has been observed my many moms that Beechnut rice cereal becomes very runny if it is not given to the baby right away.

Bottom line: Gerber rice cereal's texture is 5    Beechnut rice cereal's texture 1

Taste

The taste of the rice cereal is well defined by the word tasteless. Some moms described the taste as paper-like. What adds taste to the rice cereal is the liquid you mix it with. If you mix your baby’s cereal with formula, it will taste as good as your baby’s formula. If you mix it with sweet tasting breast milk, then it will taste good. If you mix it with plain water, the taste of cereal will be blank. However, some moms observed that Gerber rice cereal’s taste is somewhat more pleasant than Beechnut rice cereal’s taste. The difference, however is questionable.

Bottom line: Gerber rice cereal's taste is 3      Beechnut rice cereal's taste is 2.5

Ingredients

What goes into making a baby rice cereal is important. Baby’s first solid food should be nutritious, easy to digest and without unwanted artificial or allergenic ingredients. Here is where many parents had something positive to say about Beechnut rice cereal. Beechnut rice cereal does not have soy products in it. This is very important if your baby has allergies to soy. Gerber baby rice cereal, however contains soy products. Gerber and Beechnut rice cereals also contains mixed tocopherols, which are products of  vitamin E  that contain  alpha, beta, delta, and gamma forms of tocopherol. Beechnut cereal has added vitamin D3 and Gerber rice cereal does not have it. D vitamin deficiency in young infants can cause rickets, which results in skeletal deformities. Exclusively breastfed babies are more at risk than formula fed babies. Thus it is nice that Beechnut rice cereal has added vitamin D. Here is a list of ingredients of both rice cereals:

Rice flour, sunflower lecithin, vitamins and minerals: tricalcium phosphate, electrolytic iron, dicalcium phosphate, zinc sulfate, d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), mixed tocopherols, niacinamide, calcium d-pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12, folic acid, vitamin D3.

Rice flour, tri- and dicalcium phosphate, soybean oil, soy lecithin, mixed tocopherols (to preserve freshness), electrolytic iron, zinc sulfate, alpha-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), niacinamide (a B vitamin), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), riboflavin (vitamin B2), thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), folic acid (a B vitamin), vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin).

Bottom line:  Gerber r.c.ingredients is 3      Beechnut r.c. ingredients is 5

Convenience Factor

For most of parents with babies every minute during the day is precious and every penny counts, so the convenience factor takes into account the price of  baby rice cereal as well as how easy it is to prepare and serve. Parents noticed that Beechnut rice cereal for babies is cheaper than Gerber rice cereal, so moms who are looking to save a few cents here and there buy Beechnut.  When it comes to the packaging, we have mixed opinions. Some moms praise Beechnut for its easy pour box with a spout, while others claim Gerber’s box is much less messy. Either way,  both Gerber and Beechnut get some complains from busy moms that their rice cereal packaging needs improvement. Finally, Gerber rice cereal is a clear winner when it comes to adding liquid and mixing it into a smooth puree. Moms complain that Beechnut cereal is hard to mix, gets lumpy and gets very watery quite fast after 10 minutes or so.

Bottom line:  Gerber r.c. convenience is 4     Beechnut r.c. convenience is 4

In retrospect, whichever baby rice cereal you choose, Gerber or Beechnut’s, both are well trusted brands having quality of the food as a top priority. It all depends on you now, which factors are the most important to you. The overall rating is higher for Gerber rice cereal, but if you take into account individual factors, you might prefer Beechnut cereal over Gerber. Your baby is also a good judge of a product, so whisk up a bowl of rice ceral from both brands and see which one your baby likes more! The preferences are unpredictable!

Stage 2 food for 6 months and above

Taste: Sweet and creamy goodness

Beech Nut’s Apples and Bananas is a tasty treat to your beginner eater. It has a smooth creamy texture thanks to bananas and a touch of sourness to give a different feel to your baby’s taste buds. Not only it is yummy to eat, it is healthy as well. Let’s review the health and other benefits of this baby food.

Smooth texture is very important for babies without teeth! Imagine having to chew some hard bits and pieces only with your gums. Also babies at that age are not quite there yet when it comes to mincing the food in their mouths. Some babies spit out their food if they feel any “crumbs”, which is a natural protective response. Smooth texture of BeechNut pureed apples and bananas is therefore ideal for a 6 month old whose teeth are just about to see the daylight.

When it comes to nutritional value, BeechNut’s Apples and Bananas is a good nutritious fruit puree. Apples are a healthy choice for all. According to website NutritionData, apples have vitamins, like vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K and vitamin B6 as well as Riboflavin, Folate and Thiamin. They also contain a lot of necessary minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium. Fiber is another reason why your baby should eat apples on a regular basis. Fresh apples are the best, but when it comes to infants, smooth apple puree prepared from the best ingredients is an easily digestible and nutritious snack.

Banana is an excellent source of vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 is essential for good health because it is involved in multiple metabolic functions and acts like a co-enzyme to many other enzymes in the body. Banana also has some amounts of vitamin C, potassium and manganese. Ripe bananas also help with constipation because bananas are high in fiber.

A combination of these two fruit in a form of a smooth puree is a good introductory food treat for your baby, especially if your baby has issues with constipation. It contains high amount of vitamin C!

Ingredients

apples, bananas, water, ascorbic acid (vitamin c), citric acid.

Nutritional Information

Serving Size 1 jar
Trans Fat 0g
Calories 70
Total fat 0 g
Sodium 5mg
Potassium 110mg
Total Carbohydrate 17g
Fiber 1g
Sugar 13g

% of Daily Values:

Protein  0%
Vitamin A   0%
Vitamin C   45%
Calcium 0%
Iron 2%

Stage 4 food for 12 months and above

Taste: Sweet and sour with a spice of cinnamon

Beech Nut’s Fruities Fruit Cups snack for toddlers is an old-fashioned and mother approved snack of pureed apples with a dash of cinnamon. It is a snack that babies love, especially those who have a passion for sourish food. This delightful snack food for toddlers have all the health benefits of apples. According to website NutritionData, apples have vitamins, like vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K and vitamin B6 as well as Riboflavin, Folate and Thiamin. They also contain a lot of necessary minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium. Fiber is another reason why your toddler should eat apples on a regular basis. Fresh apples are the best, but when it comes to infants, smooth apple puree prepared from the best ingredients is an easily digestible and nutritious snack.

Cinnamon is best known as a spice enhancing food flavors. However, not many of us know that cinnamon is also beneficial for health. The research done by the U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists revealed that pholyphenols found in cinnamon may decrease the risk for insulin resistance, heart disease, and cancer. A dash of cinnamon in your toddler’s snack might have long term health benefits.

Ingredients

diced apples, apple puree concentrate, water, cinnamon, ascorbic acid (vitamin c).

Nutritional Information

Serving Size 1 tub
Trans Fat 0g
Calories 100
Sodium 5mg
Potassium 220mg
Total Carbohydrate 25g
Fiber 2g
Sugar 18g

% of Daily Values:

Protein  3%
Vitamin A   8%
Vitamin C   45%
Calcium 2%
Iron 2%

Stage 1 food for 4 months and above

Taste: Earthly! Earthly green beans.

Gerber Nature Select Green Beans is a healthy first food for your baby. In this review we will discuss the health benefits of the green beans as well as the taste factor.

Gerber makes its green beans puree from farm grown highest quality green beans without added sugar, artificial colors, starch or salt.  Some water is used to in the process of pureeing. Gerber is always striving to produce wholesome and nutritious quality baby food and the green beans puree is just one of its safe to eat for a baby products. Gerber does insist, though, that after opening the product should be refrigerated and used within 2 or 3 days. It is always best to serve your infant with a fresh newly opened pureed vegetable.

The taste of green beans might appear to be somewhat earthly and  robust.

Green Beans is one of the most nutritious and healthiest vegetables that you can feed your baby. A green bean is loaded with vitamins and minerals that are very important to your baby’s growth. Green beans are rich in vitamins C and K.  Vitamin C together with carotenoids, which are also present in green beans, help strengthen your baby’s immune system.  Vitamin K is a fat-soluble substance which helps with the blood-clotting process. Foliate, dietary fiber, potassium and manganese that are also found in green beans  are very important for your baby’s growing body. Green beans is  a source of a few carotenoids, which is a form of vitamin A found in fruits and vegetables. They act as antioxidants and we all know the benefits of cancer preventing antioxidants. The bottom line is that green beans are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are important for your baby’s growth and development.

Ingredients:

Green beans, water.

Nutritional Information:

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size : 1 Pack

Calories 25
Total Fat:    0g
Trans Fat:    0g
Sodium:    5mg
Potassium:    150mg
Fiber:    2g
Sugar:    2g
Total Carbohydrates:    6g
Protein:    1g

% Daily value

Protein:      3%
Vitamin A:    10%
Vitamin C:     0%
Calcium:     4%
Iron:     2%
Zinc:     4%

Where to buy online : iHerb, drugstore.com, diapers.com.

Stage 1 food for 4 months and above

Taste: Creamy! Creamy buttery squash.

Gerber Nature Select Squash is a wonderful snack food for your baby. Here we will review its nutritional qualities and its taste appeal.  This treat for your baby is  made from squash with a dash of water. Gerber is proud of its tradition  - producing wholesome and nutritious quality baby food. Thus you may serve this creamy squash to your baby without any questions about the quality of food.

The taste of squash is buttery and creamy, nothing too sour or sweet, and is perfect for introducing your baby to solid foods.

If you are wondering whether squash is a good vegetable to serve your little one, think again! Squash is high in vitamin A from beta carotene. Vitamin A is a good antioxidant and a very useful vitamin for your baby’s developing vision. Squash is also a good source of potassium, vitamin E and a range of other vitamins and minerals that are perfect for your growing “pumpkin”! If you have any doubts, check out these squash nutrition facts on the Nutritional Data website. You will be surprised how nutritious squashes are. Gerber Nature Select 1st foods squash also does not have added sugar or artificial coloring.  If you are looking for an easily digestible and yet nutritious snack, Gerber Nature Select 1st Food squash is exactly what you are looking for.

Ingredients:

Squash, water.

Nutritional Information:

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size : 1 Pack

Calories 25
Total Fat:    0g
Trans Fat:    0g
Sodium:    5mg
Potassium:    190mg
Fiber:    1g
Sugar:    3g
Total Carbohydrates:    6g
Protein:    <1g

% Daily value

Protein:      Not a significant source of protein
Vitamin A:     80% (100% from beta carotene)
Vitamin C:     0%
Calcium:     2%
Iron:     0%
Zinc:     2%

Where to buy online : Gerber, Toysrus, Walgreens.

Stage 2 food for 7 months and above

Taste:Nice! Tangy and sweet.

In this Gerber baby food review you will learn about the nutritious and delicious Gerber Nature Select 2nd foods Apple Blueberry.

While choosing a snack for your baby you probably search for something high in vitamins and fiber. Who haven’t heard about the benefits of blueberries? Especially organic wild blueberries are rich in vitamins, minerals and contain anthocyanins, other antioxidant pigments and phytochemicals that might be beneficial for health, reducing inflammation and risk for certain cancers. In a year or so your baby might be telling you “An apple a day keep doctor away!” And so Gerber, a good old reliable giant in baby food production, paired up both healthy elements to produce a delightful and healthy snack for your baby.

This snack  will tickle your baby’s taste buds. It has a sweet tartness of an apple and a tangy sourness of a blueberry. It is nice and blue in color which might seem like an interesting color to your little one and it comes in a convenient parent friendly packaging. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

Apples, blueberries, water, ascorbic acid (vitamin C)

Nutritional Information:

Serving Size 1 pack
Servings Per Container 2 packs
Amount Per Serving
Calories 50
Total Fat:    0g
Trans Fat:    0g
Sodium:    0mg
Potassium:    80mg
Total Carbohydrates:    13g
Fiber:    1g
Sugar:    10g
Protein:    0g

%Daily Value
Protein:    Not a significant source of protein
Vitamin A:    2%
Vitamin C:    45%
Calcium:    0%
Iron:    0%
Zinc:    0%

“My baby is six months old and ready to start solids. Now what? My pediatrician suggested I start from the easily digestible rice cereal, but which one to chose? Gerber or Earth’s Best? I heard good stuff about BeechNut cereals as well…”

I guess this is a dilemma that each mom goes through when their baby reaches six months or so. A lot of our readers asked us for our expert advice on rice cereal choices. We heard you and we researched baby cereal market in order to provide you with a list of the best baby rice cereals. So here is our baby rice cereal review. You will notice that we selected only whole grain cereals. Whole grain cereals have natural vitamins and minerals which are very necessary for your baby’s health. Instead of starchy white cereals with added vitamins you might chose whole grain cereals, naturally nutritious with added vitamins, minerals and iron.

1.Earth’s Best Organic Whole Grain Rice Cereal

Why it is good:

Ingredients: Organic brown rice, organic rice bran extract, tocopherols (vitamin E), alpha-amylase (enzyme) and electrolytic iron.

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 4 Tablespoons
Servings per Container: 16

Amount Per Serving
Calories 50
Total Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Sodium 0 mg
Total Carbohydrate 11 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugars 0 g
Protein 1 g

% Daily Value

Protein4%
Vitamin A 0%
Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 0%
Iron 45%
Vitamin E 15%
Thiamin 8%
Riboflavin 2%
Niacin 8%
Vitamin B6 0 8%
Phosphorus 8%
Zinc 4%

Can be found in: in most supermarkets and online in amazon.com, walmart.com, diapers.com and many other online stores.

2.Sprout Organic Whole Grain Brown Rice Cereal

Why it is good:

Ingredients: Brown Rice Flour (Organic), Sunflower Lecithin, Electrolytic Iron

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1/4 Cup
Servings Per Container: 12

Amount per Serving
Calories Total 60
Total Carbohydrate 13 g
Protein 1 g
% Daily Value
Vitamin E IU 2
Thiamin (B1) mg 6
Riboflavin (B2) mg 2
Niacin (B3) mg 10
Vitamin B6 mg 8
Iron mg 40
Phosphorus mg 8
Zinc mg 6

Can be found in: in most supermarkets and online in amazon.com, drugstore.com, alice.com, diapers.com and many other online stores.

3. Gerber Organic Brown Rice Natural Whole Grain Cereal for Baby

Why it is good:

Ingredients: Organic whole grain brown rice flour, less than 2% of:tri and dicalcium phosphate, soy lecithin, choline bitartrate, mixed tocopherols (for freshness), electrolytic iron, zinc sulfate, niacinamide, alpha tocopherol acetate (vitamin E), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), riboflavin (vitamin B2), thiamin mononitrate (vitamin b1), folic acid, vitamin D3, vitamin B12.

Nutrition Facts
Serv. Size 1/4 cup (15g)
Servings Per Container About 15

Amount Per Serving
Calories 60
Total Fat:0.5g
Trans Fat:0g
Sodium:0mg
Potassium:45mg
Total Carbohydrates:12g
Dietary Fiber: <1g
Sugar:1g
Protein:1g

%Daily Value
Infants 0-1

Protein:3%
Vitamin A:0%
Vitamin C:0%
Vitamin D:10%
Calcium:15%
Iron: 45%
Vitamin E: 25%
Thiamin:25%
Niacin: 25%
Vitamin B6:25%
Folate:25%
Vitamin B12:25%
Phosphorous:10%
Zinc: 20%

Can be found in: in most supermarkets and online in amazon.com, buy.com, gerber.com, and many other online stores.

4.Plum Organics Organic Brown Rice Cereal

Why it is good:

Ingredients: organic whole grain cereal (organic brown rice flour, sunflower lecithin), vitamins and minerals [dicalcium phosphate, reduced iron, folic acid, niacin (vitamin b3), dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate (vitamin e), zinc oxide, cyanocobalamin (vitamin b12), riboflavin (vitamin b2), thiamin mononitrate (vitamin b1), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin b6)], prebiotics [fructooligosaccharides (fos)], probiotics (lactobacillus acidophilus, bifidobacteroum lactis, lactobacillus salvarius, lactobacillus plantarum).

Nutritional Facts
Serving size ¼ cup (16g)
Servings per container about 12

Amount per serving
Calories 60
Total Fat 0g
Trans fat 0g
Sodium 0mg
Potassium 50mg
Total Carbohydrate 13g
Dietary Fiber 0g
Sugars 0g
Protein 1g

% Daily Value
Protein 7%
VitaminC 0%
Iron 90%
Thiamin 15%
Niacin 10%
Folate 10%
Phosphorus 10%
Vitamin A 0%
Calcium 10%
Vitamin E 10%
Riboflavin 20%
Vitamin B6 20%
Vitamin B 12 20%
Zinc 10%

Can be found in: Whole Foods Supermarket, Target, ToysRUs and many online stores like amazon.com, diapers.com, walgreens.com, luckyvitamin.com.

5.Healthy Times Organic Whole Grain Brown Rice Cereal

Why it is good:

Ingredients: organic whole grain brown rice flour, tricalcium phosphate, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), electrolytic iron, zinc sulfate, d-alpha tocopherol acetate (vitamin E), niacinamide, mixed tocopherols, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 and folic acid.

Nutritional Facts

Serving Size: 8 Tbsp
Servings Per Container: 12
Amount Per Serving
Calories 60
Total Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Saturated Fat 0 g
Sodium 0 mg
Potassium 15 mg
Total Carbohydrate 12 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugars 0 g
Protein 1 g

% Daily Value

Protein 4%
Vitamin A 0%
Vitamin C 25%
Calcium 25%
Iron 45%
Vitamin E 25%
Thiamin 25%
Riboflavin 25%
Niacin 25%
Vitamin B6 25%
Folate 25%
Vitamin B12 25%
Pantothenic Acid 25%
Zinc 25%

Can be found in: online stores like vitacost.com, sears.com, iherb.com.

Stage: newborn 0-3 months

Base ingredient: milk

Taste: quite good!

Features: 4oo IU of vitamin D in 27fl oz., Natural Defense Dual Prebiotics, contains DHA and ARA

Newborns require especially good nutrition because they grow so fast! Breast milk is the best, but if you need to formula feed your baby Enfamil Premium Newborn Infant Formula might be just right for you. It is specifically formulated for a newborn from 0 to 3 months old and it is gentle for the newborn’s tummy. It tastes good and it is a good quality formula, so your baby is expected to gain weight and develop well while on this formula. This formula has an extra vitamin D added to support the rapid growth of the newborn. It also has the DHA and ARA added for brain and eye development.

Ingredients:

Nonfat Milk , Lactose , Vegetable Oil , (Palm Olein , Coconut Oil , Soy Oil , High Oleic Sunflower Oil) , Whey Protein Concentrate , Galactooligosaccharides , Polydextrose , Less than 1%: Mortierella Alpina Oil , Crypthecodinium Cohnii Oil , Soy Lecithin , Vitamin A Palmitate , Vitamin D3 , Vitamin E Acetate , Vitamin K1 , Thiamin Hydrochloride , Riboflavin , Vitamin B6 Hydrochloride , Vitamin B12 , Niacinamide , Folic Acid , Calcium Pantothenate , Biotin , Ascorbic Acid , Inositol , Calcium Carbonate , Calcium Phosphate , Magnesium Oxide , Ferrous Sulfate , Zinc Sulfate , Manganese Sulfate , Cupric Sulfate , Potassium Iodide , Sodium Selenite , Potassium Citrate , Choline Chloride , Potassium Chloride , Sodium Chloride , Nucleotides , (Cytidine 5′-Monophosphate , Disodium Urdine 5′-Monophosphate , Adenosine 5′-Monophosphate , Disodium Guanosine 5′-Monophosphate) , Taurine , L-Carnitine

Nutritional Information:

Nutrients (Normal Dilution) per 100 Calories (5 fl oz)

Protein                   2.1g

Fat                          5.3g

Carbohydrate      11.2g

Water                    133g

Linoleic Acid       860mg

Vitamins

A                               300     IU
D                              75     IU
E                                2      IU
K                                9      mcg
Thiamin                 80     mcg
Riboflavin            140     mcg
Vitamin B6            60     mcg
Vitamin B12          0.3     mcg
Niacin                1000     mcg
Folic Acid               16     mcg
Pantothenic acid    500 mcg
Biotin                          3    mcg
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) 12 mg
Choline                   24    mg
Inositol                     6    mg

Minerals

Calcium             78  mg
Phosphorus       43  mg
Magnesium          8  mg
Iron                   1.8  mg
Zinc                      1  mg
Manganese        15  mcg
Copper                75  mcg
Iodine                  15  mcg
Selenium             2.8  mcg
Sodium                27  mg
Potassium          108  mg
Chloride               63  mg

Bringing your baby home from the hospital is very exiting as well as nerve wrecking. Each mother wants to be the best mother for her baby and each dad wants the best for his son or daughter. The first priority while taking care of the newborn is providing your baby with a good and balanced nutrition. Breastfeeding is the best thing you can do for your baby. Breast milk has live cells and other immunity boosting elements that currently cannot be replicated synthetically. However, not all moms can breastfeed for many reasons. That’s when it is important to research infant formulas and to choose the best one for your baby. Your baby’s pediatrician is an excellent source of reliable knowledge. Other moms and their experiences can also be helpful. There are mixed opinions about Earth’s Best Organic Infant  formula.

The positive features of this product are:

-it is organic so the milk used as a base for this formula is organic

-it is more affordable than other organic formula

-it has all the good vitamins and minerals added to it

The drawbacks that some parents are concerned with:

-DHA and ARA are added to the organic in Earth’s Best formula, although federal organic regulations prohibit hexane-extracted ingredients in organic foods. Parents who choose to buy organic products for their babies spend extra dollar in order to get the purest and healthiest food. The controversy about the DHA/ARA extraction using toxic chemical hexane upset many organic product buyers. One mom, who went extra length to get this formula shipped to Singapore was astonished to learn about this controversy. “The formula was marketed as a pure organic product and we pay premium prices,” she writes in her  review in Amazon.com website. “Calls to Hain Celestial customer service drove me further up the wall when first, a lady said the hexane was only in trace amounts and less than what the FDA approved!”

DHA and ARA are not listed as approved substances on the National List of Approved and Prohibited Substances (7 CFR 205.605) which is established by the Secretary of Agriculture with recommendations form the  National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). DHA and ARA are extracted from algae and soil fungus by using hexane, a toxic chemical which is a by-product of gasoline refining. There is a concern that there is not enough research done on the possible residues of hexane after the distillation process in the derived DHA and ARA. According to the information on the Earth’s Best website, Earth’s Best Infant Formula  contains 2 times the DHA found in the leading organic formula.

A valuable source of information on DHA/ARA and hexane is Cornucopia Institute. Click here to read their Questions and Answers document about DHA and ARA.

-Another drawback is that Earth’s Best Organic Infant Formula does not mix very well and forms lumps. Some moms noticed that it takes a lot of patience and diligence to mix this formula well. It might be frustrating when you have a crying hungry child next to you.

Ingredients

Organic Reduced Minerals Whey, Organic Non-Fat Milk, Organic Lactose, Organic Glucose Syrup Solids, Organic Palm Oil Or Organic Palm Olein, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic High Oleic (Safflower Or Sunflower Oil), Organic Soy Oil, Organic Whey Protein Concentrate And Less Than 1%: Crypthecodinium Cohnii Oil (Docosahexaenoic Acid), Mortierella Alpina Oil (Arachidonic Acid), Soy Lecithin, Minerals: (Calcium Chloride, Calcium Hydroxide, Cupric Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Potassium Bicarbonate, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Hydroxide, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Selenite, Zinc Sulfate), Taurine, Vitamins: Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Beta-Carotene, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Choline Chloride, Cyanocobalamin, Folic Acid, Inositol, Mixed Tocopherol Concentrate, Niacinamide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Thiamin Hydrochloride, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol), Vitamin E (Dl-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate), Vitamin K (Phytonadione), Nucleotides: Adenosine-5′-Monophosphate, Cytidine-5′-Monophosphate, Disodium Guanosine-5′-Monophosphate, Disodium Inosine-5′-Monophosphate, Disodium Uridine-5′-Monophosphate.

Angelina Jolie and her sons Pax and Maddox savored roasted crickets while visiting Madox’es native Cambodia. In Cambodia deep fried and spiced up crickets is a very popular snack. It is considered to be a  very healthy one for all generations. Like other bugs, crickets are, indeed, rich in protein. According to Angelina Jolie, “They’re good! They are like potato chips!”