Common formula ingredients explained: lactose, starch, maltodextrin, soy and sugar

Updated 3 months ago

Reading a formula label

Infant formula ingredient lists can be long and technical — full of names that are hard to pronounce and harder to evaluate. This guide covers the most commonly questioned ingredients: what they are, why they are used, and whether they are something to be concerned about.

For a full side-by-side comparison of which ingredients appear in which formula, see the Formula Comparison Chart.

Lactose

Lactose is the naturally occurring sugar found in all mammalian milk, including breast milk. It is made up of glucose and galactose — two sugars that babies are biologically designed to digest from birth. Lactose supports calcium absorption, feeds beneficial gut bacteria and provides a sustained source of energy without causing rapid blood sugar spikes.

EU regulations require lactose to be the primary carbohydrate in all standard cow and goat milk formula. All formulas at My Organic Formula are lactose-based. True lactose intolerance is rare in babies — most digestive discomfort attributed to lactose is actually a cow milk protein sensitivity.

Found in: all formulas at My Organic Formula

Starch

Starch is a complex carbohydrate derived from natural sources such as corn or tapioca. It is digested more slowly than lactose, which means it releases energy gradually and helps keep hungrier babies feeling fuller for longer. It also gives formula a slightly thicker, creamier texture.

EU regulations permit starch as a supplementary carbohydrate in formula from Stage 2 onwards. It is not a filler or sweetener — it serves a nutritional and functional purpose for growing babies with higher energy needs.

Found in: HiPP German Stage 1 and above, Holle cow Stage 2 and above, Holle goat Stage 2 and above

Maltodextrin

Maltodextrin is a processed carbohydrate derived from starch — usually corn, rice or potato starch — that has been partially broken down through hydrolysis into shorter chains of glucose. It is tasteless, easily digestible and dissolves quickly in water. In formula it is used to balance sweetness, add creaminess and provide an additional source of energy.

Many parents are concerned about maltodextrin because it sounds like corn syrup — but the two are different. Maltodextrin is a complex carbohydrate, not a simple sugar. It is not added to sweeten formula. That said, maltodextrin has a higher glycemic index than lactose, and some babies with sensitive digestive systems may find it harder to tolerate. Parents who prefer the simplest possible ingredient list can choose formulas without it.

The maltodextrin used in EU-certified organic formula must be derived from non-GMO sources.

Found in: Holle cow Stage 1 and above

Soy

Soy can appear in formula in two forms: as soy lecithin (an emulsifier that helps blend fats and liquids) or as soy protein (the base of soy formula for babies with dairy intolerance).

None of the formulas at My Organic Formula are soy-based. Some formulas may contain a small amount of soy lecithin as an emulsifier — this is a trace amount used for manufacturing purposes, not a nutritional ingredient, and is not associated with soy allergy reactions in most babies. However, if your baby has a confirmed soy allergy, check the ingredient list carefully.

Babies with a confirmed cow milk protein allergy have up to a 60% chance of also being allergic to soy — which is why soy formula is often not the right alternative for CMPA babies. Consult your paediatrician before switching to soy-based formula.

Soy-free formulas at My Organic Formula: HiPP, Holle, Nannycare, Kendamil — all soy-free as a formula base

Sugar

The term “sugar” on a formula label can refer to several different ingredients — lactose (which is milk sugar and perfectly appropriate), or added refined sugars such as sucrose, corn syrup, glucose syrup or brown rice syrup. These added sugars are used to cut production costs and to mask the bitter taste of some specialist formulas.

EU regulations prohibit sucrose, corn syrup, glucose syrup, fructose and brown rice syrup in standard cow and goat milk formula. You will not find any of these added sugars in any formula at My Organic Formula. The only sugars present are lactose — naturally occurring in the milk base — and in some formulas, maltodextrin as an additional carbohydrate.

Dietary guidelines for infants recommend zero added sugars in the first two years of life.