What is ARA and is it safe?

Updated 3 months ago

What is ARA?

ARA (arachidonic acid) is a long-chain omega-6 fatty acid found naturally in breast milk. It is present in all animal-based foods — eggs, meat, fish and dairy — and plays an important role in brain function, nervous system development and immune regulation.

ARA is almost always added to formula alongside DHA, because the two fatty acids work together. Research suggests that the ratio of ARA to DHA matters — with ARA at least equal to, or up to twice the level of DHA — to achieve developmental benefits similar to those seen in breastfed babies.

What does ARA do for your baby?

• Brain and nervous system development — ARA is a structural component of brain tissue and works alongside DHA to support neurological development during the first years of life
• Cell growth and repair — ARA plays a role in producing signalling molecules that regulate cell growth, inflammation and immune responses
• Mimicking breast milk — breast milk naturally contains both ARA and DHA, with ARA typically at higher levels than DHA. Adding both to formula helps replicate this natural composition

Is ARA safe?

Yes — ARA has been added to infant formula for decades and is considered safe by the World Health Organization, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics. It is a naturally occurring fatty acid found in breast milk and common foods, and its use in formula is well established.

In early 2026, several infant formula brands in the UK were recalled following concerns about a potential contamination of an ARA ingredient supplied by a third-party supplier. The British Food Standards Agency confirmed that the contamination was linked to the specific supplier — not to ARA as an ingredient itself. Austrian authorities found no detectable contamination in most tested formula samples, and where it was found, concentrations were generally below levels considered to pose a health risk. The supplier in question is no longer used by formula manufacturers.

None of the formulas at My Organic Formula were affected by these recalls.

ARA and DHA — why they work together

Most of the research on DHA’s positive effects on brain and eye development has been conducted in studies that supplemented with both DHA and ARA together. This means that the benefits attributed to DHA in formula are, in part, dependent on ARA being present alongside it at the right ratio. Formula that contains DHA but not ARA may not deliver the same developmental benefits as formula containing both.

All formulas at My Organic Formula contain both DHA and ARA in line with EU infant nutrition guidelines.

Questions about ARA and your baby

Can ARA cause digestive issues?

Some older concerns about gastrointestinal symptoms were linked to a specific type of synthetically produced ARA derived from fungal sources, which is not used in European organic formula. ARA in EU-certified formula is sourced and produced under strict quality standards and has not been associated with adverse effects in healthy term babies.

Is there a formula without ARA?

All formulas at My Organic Formula contain ARA. Because DHA is mandatory in all EU infant formulas since 2020, and because the developmental benefits of DHA are linked to the presence of ARA alongside it, all EU-compliant formulas include both. If you have specific concerns about ARA for your baby, consult your paediatrician.