Breastfeeding is the best and natural choice for feeding babies. But mothers who can't, or choose not to, breastfeed are overwhelmed by the different brands and types of infant formula. Which is the best choice? Generic, or store brand, formulas can cost about half as much as national brands. Does this mean they are not as nutritious as the more expensive brands? Do additives such as prebiotics or essential fatty acids really matter and make them worth the added cost?
National Brands of Infant Formula
Gerber Good Start (formerly Nestle Good Start), Similac Advance, and Enfamil Premium are the top 3 national brands of infant formula. Most of these name-brand formulas add additional ingredients to their products. Enfamil uses the term LIPIL, which is their combination of the fatty acids ARA and DHA. Gerber formula has Comfort Proteins, which are partially broken down in a proprietary way. Similac has EarlyShield, which is their patented formulation of nutrients.
So what difference do these additives make? Besides added cost, there is no proven benefit to some of the additives. According to a Cochrane Review summary about a study involving long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (which include DHA and ARA), "feeding term infants with milk formula enriched with LCPUFA had no proven benefit regarding vision, cognition or physical growth." So while the additives are approved by the FDA and are safe, it doesn't necessarily mean the fatty acids are beneficial.
Generic Formula Manufacturers
PBM Products, located in Gordonsville, VA, makes the generic infant formulas sold by stores such as Target, Wal-Mart, and Sam's Club. They offer versions to match many of the different varieties the national brands produce, such as organic formulas, lactose-free formulas, and soy formulas. In addition to private label store brands, PBM manufactures Bright Beginnings formula, which is a national low-priced brand.
FDA Regulation
According to the Infant Formula Act of 1980, all infant formulas sold in the United States must meet the same nutritional requirements, as set forth by the Food and Drug Administration. Store-brand and name-brand formulas can't differ that much in the amount of most vitamins, minerals, fat content, carbohydrates, etc. they contain.
In summary, while all formulas are safe and nutritious for infants, not all formulas are created the same. However, it isn't clear whether expensive additives are beneficial to your baby. For parents on a budget, generic formulas are perfectly fine nutrition for their youngest family members. It is worth noting, however, that formula additives are aimed at making formula more like breast milk, which is available for free with all the ingredients necessary for baby.
Source:
Simmer K, Patole S, Rao SC. "Longchain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in infants born at term." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD000376. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000376.pub2.
Allison Russo - Allison Russo holds a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Computer Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Most recently she ...
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