We’ve all heard of starch, but what exactly is this popular ingredient and how is it used in organic baby formulas? Although it may seem like all starch is the same, it’s not. Starch, a polysaccharide carbohydrate, is found in all vegetables and is the human body’s main source of energy.
Where Does Starch Come From?
In Europe, where all of the organic formulas sold at My Organic Formula are made, most starch is extracted from potatoes, maize (corn), and wheat. Once extracted from the vegetable source, starch becomes an odorless and tasteless white powder. Although most commonly used as a thickening or binding product in foods, when modified it can also be used in non-perishable items like paper and adhesives.
Starch can also be converted into glucose or a sweetener. Starch sweeteners are primarily used in the food and beverage industry, and are produced under names like high fructose corn syrup, glucose syrup, and dextrose.
How Starch is Used in European Made Formulas
The main use of starch in European made formulas is as a source of carbohydrates and in some cases, as a thickener. When used in European formulas, starch is extracted from biodynamic agriculture. Biodynamic agriculture is basically organically grown agriculture, but even better. Here’s why biodynamic agriculture is even better than just organically grown produce:
- Biodynamic farms prohibit the use of pesticides and herbicides
- Biodynamic farms follow a holistic approach to farming
- Biodynamic farms use fermented manure, minerals, and herbs to restore the soil
- Biodynamic farms don’t genetically modify agriculture or use hybrids
Is Starch Used in All Formulas?
Is starch used in all formulas? No, starch is not used in all formulas. Babies under the age of 6 months oftentimes can’t tolerate certain ingredients like starch, which is why several formula manufacturers make starch free formulas. Babies experiencing a sensitivity to starch may benefit from a starch free formula. Keep in mind, starch may not always be the culprit if your baby is experiencing digestive issues, so it’s best to speak to your child’s doctor about what other ingredients may be causing the problem. The starch free formulas we carry are:
- Holle Cow Milk Infant Formula PRE
- Holle Cow Milk Stage 1
- Holle Goat Milk Stage 1
- HIPP Germany PRE
- HIPP UK Stages 1 – 4
- HIPP Dutch Stages 1 – 3
- HIPP HA PRE
- HIPP Anti-Reflux
- HIPP Children’s Milk 1 & 2 +
- Lebenswert Stage 1 & 2
As you can see, if you’re concerned about the use of starch in infant formula, there’s no shortage of formulas for you to choose from.
If you have questions about starch or the use of starch in the organic baby formulas we carry, please contact our team by submitting a contact form. We’ll do our best to answer your question promptly!
