EARTH’S BEST BABY FOODS

Information updated February and July 2024

POTENTIAL BABY FOOD TOXICITY: There is significant, current and scary data regarding the presence of ingredients which are not on any ingredient labels >> the toxic components which have seeped into almost all of the manufactured foods + beverages we consume and, by definition, most mass-produced baby foods. (Source: Subcommittee Report 2021)

Here is additional information on toxins in many Baby Foods from Healthy Babies Bright Futures:

You don’t need to be an expert to assess Baby Food ingredients or any ingredients >> just ask yourself, “Is this something I would have in my own kitchen if I were making this item at home from scratch?”

In the case of Baby Foods, keep the ingredients for homemade Baby Foods in mind as you look at ingredient labels >> anything you don’t recognize or you would never use to make food for your baby is designated as Not In Kitchen.

Not In Kitchen™ ingredients are those we would never use at home to make this item.

Homemade Baby Foods include simple and clean ingredients alone or in combination including Fruits, Veggies, Grains, Fish+Fowl+Beef and possibly Dairy. There are some naturally-occurring Sugars in some of these ingredients, but there is no Added Sugar in homemade Baby Foods >> therefore, Added Sugar is designated as an ingredient Not In Kitchen when making homemade Baby Foods.

EARTH’S BEST BABY FOOD is owned by Hain Celestial. On the Hain Celestial Web site:

Back in 1985, Earth’s Best® began as an organic baby food company based in Vermont. Ever since that date, we have maintained our commitment to use the best quality, ethically + sustainably sourced organic ingredients + make yummy foods that are just right for tiny tummies.

So, with that as a reference point, let’s see what’s in Hain Celestial Earth’s Best Baby Foods.. (Sources: Hain Celestial Earth’s Best Web site 2/24; U.S. FDA 2024)

Learn more about potential reactions to Manufactured Citric Acid from a study — Potential role of the common food additive manufactured citric acid in eliciting significant inflammatory reactions contributing to serious disease states: A series of four case reports

From the study:

“Citric acid naturally exists in fruits and vegetables. However, it is not the naturally occurring citric acid, but the manufactured citric acid (MCA) that is used extensively as a food and beverage additive. Approximately 99% of the world’s production of MCA is carried out using the fungus Aspergillus niger since 1919. Aspergilus niger is a known allergen.”

The conclusion of this study is:

“We cannot conclusively affirm that Manufactured Citric Acid is the causative factor in the subjects’ inflammatory symptoms. However, our findings demonstrate a significant likelihood that MCA may be the culprit and are suggestive of valid concerns which warrant proper double blind studies to determine presence or absence of harm.”

Source: National Library of Medicine U.S. Institutes of Health

Seen below, HAIN CELESTIAL EARTH’S BEST SESAME STREET ELMO ORGANIC SUNNY DAYS SNACK BARS SWEET POTATO CARROT CONTAN FOUR SOURCES OF ADDED SWEETENERS . . . AND CITRIC ACID. These Sesame Street-licensed snacks for toddlers include Organic Invert Cane Sugar, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cane Syrup and Organic Brown Rice Syrup.

Q: Why are Sesame Street and Hain Celestial creating a product for kids with multiple ingredients Not In Kitchen including 4 sources of Added Sweeteners plus Citric Acid Preservative, Organic Butter Flavor, Natural Flavors, Organic Flavor, Organic Glycerin, Organic Coloring and Organic Gum Arabic.

Note about Invert Cane Sugar which is in this product >> this is not the same as Cane Sugar. Invert Sugars are commercial sugars that have been altered by a chemical process to provide a sugar with different properties that are more conducive to being utilized in mass-production products which sit on shelves for long periods of time. Invert Sugars are better at helping the product retain moisture which is why we often see Invert Sugar in items like these bars which seek to maintain a soft texture.

Below is a snapshot of what’s in Earth’s Best Whole Grain Oatmeal Cereal:

Not everything from Earth’s Best brand is certified USDA Organic. If you look closely, you will notice there are two Earth’s Best logos >> one says ‘Organic’ and one does not.

Seen below, HAIN CELESTIAL HAS ADDED SWEETENERS TO EACH OF THESE EARTH’S BEST FROZEN MAIN MEAL OPTIONS DESIGNED FOR KIDS: Mini Beef Meatballs, Broccoli & Cheese Nuggets, Organic Chicken Fries, Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets and Chicken Nuggets all have Added Sugar(s).

Shown below, SESAME STREET EARTH’S BEST ORGANIC GARDEN VEGGIE STRAWS CONTAIN ADDED SUGAR. The Sesame Street Garden Veggie Straws contain Organic Cane Sugar.

The Sesame Street Organic Crunchin’ Grahams contain four sources of Added Sweeteners.

Shown below, ORGANIC GLUCOSE SYRUP SOLIDS — A COMMERCIAL SWEETENER WE’VE NEVER HAD IN OUR HOME KITCHENS — IS THE #1 INGREDIENT IN A HAIN CELESTIAL FORMULA DESIGNED FOR BABY’S FIRST 12 MONTHS.

Q: How can Glucose Syrup Solids be the #1 ingredient in a Hain Celestial Infant Formula designed for Baby’s First 12 Months from a brand calling itself ‘Earth’s Best’?

Organic Glucose Syrup Solids are a commercial ingredient which is a Saccharide/Sweetener. Most of us have never even heard of ‘Glucose Syrup Solids’ and it certainly is never an ingredient in anything homemade for a baby.

Yes, Glucose provides energy >> we all know that because we’ve seen what happens to kids when they eat sugar — so it’s not ideal for any child — but note for whom this product has been created >> this is a product designed for babies who have “Fussiness, Gas & Crying” so it is Reduced Lactose . . . and increased Sugar.

Q: If you’re a fussy baby, would you still be fussy if someone gave you a formula with Sugars as the primary ingredient? How do you think that would set up your palate and preferences for the rest of your life?

Now for the good news, yay!

CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE® BABY FOODS: There are several Baby Food Products which are Closest To Homemade . . . and notes on why a few are not . . .

Demeter biodynamic® certification has zero tolerance for genetic modification including the use of any GMO organisms or ingredients. Biodynamic® products are sourced from biodynamic farms which practice regenerative farming >> items are grown and raised here in a way which helps heal the soil and the earth, so they not only taste great and have optimal nutrition but they help combat climate change >> they remove carbon from the atmosphere and put it back into the soil.  Find out more about Biodynamic® farming from Demeter — the only certifier in the U.S. for Biodynamic® farms and products:

See the Ingredient Inspector review of Plum Organics Baby Food:

See the Ingredient Inspector review of Gerber Baby Foods:

Here’s a handy summary chart:

Discover more food + beverage products in 275+ categories whose ingredients are Closest To Homemade:

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And we leave you with a flashback to the early days of manufactured Baby Foods . . .