Gastrointestinal tolerability of organic infant formula compared to traditional ‎infant formula: A systematic review

Table 1 Compares the European and American organic infant formulas

	European organic infant formula	American organic infant formula
Regulations	EC has stricter standards than the United States FDA. For instance, all infant formulas must be organic, and there is a limit on certain ingredients, such as pesticides and antibiotics	The FDA regulates infant formulas through USDA & NOP, which have less strict standards than the EC. Not all infant formulas are required to be organic, & the FDA does not limit certain ingredients
Cultural attitudes toward the formula	Very strong positive attitude across the countries	Less than in Europe
Guidelines & regulations	Updated yearly	Not as frequent as European guidelines
Labelling and claims	Must meet standardized requirements, and products displaying the EU Organic Logo adhere to these regulations	Must comply with the NOP guidelines. The USDA Organic seal signifies adherence to these standards
Ingredients	It is more likely to be made with organic ingredients, such as milk from grass-fed cows or goats. They are also more likely to contain probiotics, beneficial bacteria that can help support gut health	It is more likely to contain added iron, which is essential for preventing iron deficiency anemia. They may also have other ingredients not allowed in European formulas, such as corn syrup solids
Probiotics	It is more likely to contain probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that can help support gut health	Less likely to contain probiotics
Percentage of organic ingredients	Not less than 95%	Not less than 70%
Calories sources	Must have at least 30% of calories from lactose	Not required
	The inclusion of sucrose is prohibited, except in small quantities in some specialty formulas, such as premature or hypoallergic formulas	It may contain Sucrose, glucose, and maltodextrins
Added iron	It is less likely to contain added iron, which is vital for preventing iron deficiency anemia	More likely to contain added iron
Synthetic additives, pesticides, steroids, hormones, & GMOs	Strictly prohibited	Synthetic additives and GMOs are also prohibited, but specific regulations may differ
Taste	Some parents say that European formulas taste better than American formulas. This is likely because they are made with more natural ingredients	There is no consensus on whether European or American formulas taste better. Some parents prefer the taste of European formulas, while others prefer the taste of American formulas
Cost	Typically, they are more expensive than American formulas. This is because they are made with higher-quality ingredients & have stricter regulations	Typically, they are less expensive than European formulas. This is because they are made with less expensive ingredients and have less strict regulations

EC: The European Commission; EFSA: European Food Safety Authority; FDA: Food and Drug Administration; GMOs: Genetically modified organisms; NOP: The National Organic Program; USDA: The United States Department of Agriculture.