Today “organic food” is written and spoken about quite often. The market for organic products is booming. And yet, there are still many questions about organic food. They are of particular concern to those who have young children because every mother wants to feed her baby the best, healthiest, and highest quality food. So what is organic food?
What requirements must be met for the products to be called organic?
Why is it so important to use organic products in a baby’s nutrition, and what is the main difference between organic infant formula and non-organic formulas?
How food becomes organic
Many people think that in order for fruits and vegetables to become organic, you simply have to grow them without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and plant growth regulators.
Big mistake! Organic farming is a much more complex and multifaceted phenomenon. It is not enough to do away with chemistry and, of course, genetic engineering. Cultivate crops and keep animals only on the cleanest land possible.
Proper crop rotation is essential to improve soil fertility and balance the ecosystem. For example, within five years, the field is alternately grown with clover, wheat, oats, vegetables, and clover again. This reduces weed infestation, provides the soil with various nutrients, and reduces the rate of natural soil depletion. Only manure is used to enrich the soil.
Insect pests can only be dealt with by natural methods, such as planting along the edge of the field that is particularly attractive to beetles, thereby enticing them. Livestock breeding adheres to the principle of stress-free housing. Cattle and poultry are free-range for most of the year. Animals are not fed antibiotics, hormones, or growth stimulants.
They receive organic feed grown on organic fields. Organic farming does not degrade the quality of the soil, and groundwater is not polluted, the ecological condition of the environment does not suffer.
Any organic production is regularly subjected to strict inspections. Only then the product receives the right to “wear” on the label sign, guaranteeing the quality and environmental friendliness: “Eurolist.”
Organic, Bio, Eco… Is it the same thing?
In addition to these definitions, you can also find “farm,” “bio,” “biodynamic”… Are these terms interchangeable? Not exactly, and some have nothing to do with organic products at all. It so happens that the production of healthy food in different countries is scattered.
Agricultural production systems are given their own names for the same. In English-speaking countries, they are mostly called organic. In Northern Europe – ecological or biological, vegetables are grown according to the biodynamic methods in some farms.
But it is complicated by the fact that each country has its particular standards, technical regulations, regulatory authorities, and certification agencies. Their requirements do not always coincide, so today, “organic” is the only legally defined term for truly clean and healthy products.
Natural Products
Natural products are those grown in nature, not synthesized in a laboratory. But the use of synthetic preparations is not excluded.
Bio and Eco
Similar labels can be seen on the packages of organic products in several European countries.
Farm products
Such products have nothing in common with organic because farmers producing their products use the same methods as large industrial and chemical enterprises. Sometimes, private farmers have to use even more synthetic additives because they need to reduce the risks of losses and costs.
Indications such as “natural product,” “non-GMO and preservative-free,” “organic” – are not markers of organic products.
Why should baby food be organic?
Only the “Euroleaf” sign on the package indicates that the product has the appropriate quality certificate and gives customers a guarantee of safety. The “Euroleaf” label on the package is not a marketing ploy but a holistic system of truly clean and healthy food production.
Products grown organically have a higher nutritional value. On average, they contain 50% more vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and biologically active substances compared to products produced by conventional technologies.
Organic baby food is the key to future health. Children in their first years of life are especially vulnerable: their bodies are very susceptible to various toxins and chemical additives, which often cause allergies. Even small amounts of pesticides can negatively affect a baby’s health.
Food is the building material for all the organs and tissues of our body. And given the rate at which a child grows and develops at an early age, it is easy to conclude how important it is to eat clean products at this time. Luckily, at this time is easy to find good choices for babies on sites like Serenity Kids.
Organic baby food enriches the diet and forms the right taste habits in children. Many young picky eaters prefer organic products because of the taste sensation, and this is the rare case where “healthy” does not mean “unpalatable.”
Organic infant formula
These formulas are considered the best for babies. They are based on cow’s milk or goat’s milk, with no hormones, fertilizers, pesticides, or antibiotics—an environmentally friendly product of the highest quality, in compliance with all regulations. Organic formula is a guarantee of naturalness and benefits. But do not forget that even natural products can trigger allergies. Therefore, both organic and non-organic formulas should be introduced gradually into the infant’s diet.
For example, organic baby formula has advantages compared to regular ones: a more balanced amino acid composition, a higher content of vitamins and minerals. At the same time, the range of organic milk harmoniously complements the always available baby porridge, which is characterized by excellent taste, high nutritional value, and safety due to the strict requirements for baby food in the world.
Organic formulas on organicbestshop.com help parents worldwide make their first steps to ensure their babies` healthy growth and development! Manufacturers such as HIPP provide a careful selection of raw materials and strict technological and chemical control of the production process. HiPP uses only organic milk produced according to European organic legislation. Each formula box has a green “Euroleaf” label – a mark of organic quality. But the requirements for HiPP products themselves are much higher than those of the EU. That is why all the raw materials that go into production are additionally checked.