The Cleanest & Best Organic Baby Foods: Investigation

Once reserved for the ultra-health-conscious, organic baby food has become all the rage among Gen X, Millennial, and Gen-Z parents. We love this trend and want to see it continue. However…just because baby food is “organic” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s free from harmful contaminants, like heavy metals, forever chemicals, or microplastics. That’s why we investigated dozens of organic baby foods to determine which are truly the best regarding ingredients, packaging, and contaminants like heavy metals.

Keep reading to learn more about the best, better + worst options.

Best Organic Baby Food

Note: This article contains affiliate links, meaning In On Around will make a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps us maintain the site. As always, we value full transparency & only work with brands we love and trust.

Author: In On Around Founder & CEO, Catherine Power.

Summary: 

  • A FED baby, is a happy baby… but if you’re looking for organic baby food options, these are your best bets. 
  • Opt for more vegetable-based baby food options instead of fruit-based.
  • Best Brand = Lil’ Gourmets, Square Baby

Table of Contents

We are not about spreading fear or shaming parents into thinking they aren’t doing enough. Being a protective yet zen health- and toxin-conscious parent is hard enough these days! However, we believe you deserve to know the truth about what you’re paying for and what you’re feeding your precious baby. 

Especially if you’re paying extra and going to great lengths to buy the best quality organic baby food.

If you’ve read other articles on this topic, you know most skim the surface and recommend one “best of the best” (affiliate) brand. We wanted to do better than that. 

So we spent hours upon hours digging deep into these companies’ policies and requesting and analyzing COAs (Certificates of Analysis) to see who lives up to their claim of the healthiest, cleanest organic baby food.

We’ve also included links so you can learn more and find these brands based on a “best,” “better,” and “worst” rating system.

Wait! Isn’t ALL Organic Baby Food Healthy?!

Writing an article on “the best organic baby food” seems ridiculous when it is already supposed to be cleaner and healthier. While research shows organic baby food does not contain pesticides compared to conventional brands, not all organic baby foods are created equal. [1]

Additional considerations regarding organic and conventional baby food include:

1) Preservatives like Citric Acid & Ascorbic Acid

  • These are synthetic preservatives that acidify food to prevent spoilage, which is a good thing for preventing mold and other foodborne illnesses. 
  • However, the addition of a synthetic acid acidifies the food, making it questionable for a developing baby’s teeth, bones, and body.
  • Sure, a little probably won’t hurt, but there’s not enough research to know how this may impact a baby or child long-term.
  • In addition, citric acid is cultured in black mold and is an allergen.

2) Packaging

  • This is tough to get around even with organic brands, but pouches and plastic packaging have the potential to leach plastic chemicals such as BPA, BPB, phthalates, BPS, microplastics, etc., into foods.
  • Again, we are not trying to shame you or make your life more difficult, but plastics are made from petroleum, and other endocrine(hormone)-)-disrupting chemicals.
  • They also have the potential to shed microplastic particles into baby foods, especially when heated, reused, or when they contain hot food.
  • We must be aware of these facts to make the best decisions for our families.
    • Glass is best
    • Silicone is second-best
    • Plastic packaging free from BPA, phthalates, BPS, BPB, etc. is the third-best
  • Consuming foods in pouches can also negatively impact a baby’s oral development. If you choose a pouch option, it’s best to spoon-feed the baby or limit pouches to car trips or when you really need them.
Healthy baby food

3) Added Sugars

  • You’d be hard-pressed to find an organic baby food with sugar or corn syrup (formula’s another story, unfortunately). [You can read more about baby formula here: Safe, Non-Toxic Baby Formula Free Of Heavy Metals]
  • However, fruit juice concentrates are common in some brands and are a very concentrated source of sugar that your baby doesn’t need.

4) Heavy Metals

  • You’ve probably heard about heavy metals in baby foods before.
  • However, most investigations have focused on rice cereals and fruit juices. If only the buck stopped there.
  • Unfortunately, our investigation revealed several fruit, vegetable, and grain-based baby foods, including organics, contain heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and aluminum.
  • To be fair, it’s nearly impossible to avoid heavy metals in food these days. Don’t obsess over it.
  • Much of this is due to air and water pollution, heavy metal-based pesticides (which don’t magically stop at the border of an industrial ag farm), and naturally occurring heavy metals in soil.
  • The point is that baby food companies need to test their products to ensure the minimal amount of heavy metals possible before selling them to unknowing consumers.
 

We believe they also need to share the results of these tests versus just asking consumers to take their word for it. More on this important issue coming up.

Allowable Limits of Heavy Metals in Baby Food

Once again, this header sounds like a scary oxymoron. Yet, allowable limits of heavy metals in baby food is a reality, and the FDA is not doing a very good job of monitoring this.

As discussed previously, heavy metals occur naturally in soil, which transmits trace amounts into our foods.

These natural heavy metals, also known as trace minerals in some instances, are not problematic, and some, like copper, are even beneficial in small amounts.

The problem, especially for developing babies and young children, is the heavy metals in our foods from other sources, such as pollution, tainted water, pesticides, etc., which can negatively impact brain development and many other aspects of health.

Healthiest baby food options

So, what’s the FDA doing about this? In our opinion, not enough.

Of this writing, they have set limits for heavy metals for just two baby foods:

  1. Infant rice cereal
  2. Fruit juice (which isn’t recommended for babies)

 

According to a CNN report, the FDA standard for rice cereal set in 2020 limited inorganic arsenic to 100 parts per billion, ten times higher than the standard for bottled water.

Epic. Fail. However, progress is slowly being made. 

For example, the newly introduced Baby Food Safety Act of 2024 would direct the FDA to develop maximum allowable limits for toxic heavy metals in baby food more broadly, set standards for final food product testing, and allow the FDA to monitor these standards through access to the records of food suppliers and manufacturers. [2]

Hopefully, it passes. The most promising progress, however, is the FDA’s Closer to Zero campaign, which is working to research contaminants, like heavy metals, in foods and ultimately increase regulatory surveillance and standards for contaminants. 

However, as of today, the FDA does not mandate that baby food companies set certain limits on heavy metal contamination in baby foods, organic or otherwise, beyond rice cereal and juice.

We are very happy to see the FDA taking steps to rectify this problem through programs like Closer to Zero, but progress has been slow.

Therefore, this due diligence is on the consumer. 

So, how does the average consumer track heavy metal limits in baby food? The best way is to request a Certificate of Analysis (COA) directly from the company.

COAs contain the results of contaminant or other testing on a product and will tell you what you need to know. Since the average parent won’t have time to do this, we’ve done it for you to determine the best organic baby foods. 

We also dug deep into these baby food companies’ commitments to third-party testing, sustainability, regenerative agriculture, low-waste packaging, and other ethos.

Some we could verify, most we couldn’t. Without further ado, let’s dig into the results.

What Our Investigation Revealed About Contaminants In Organic Baby Foods

Our investigation revealed good things and not-so-good things about contaminants in organic baby food and the companies that make them.

Some organic baby food companies were completely transparent and forthcoming with their COAs, the good, the bad, and the ugly. However, most were not, with the majority refusing or ignoring our repeated COA requests.

To be fair, we also share statements from companies on how they aim to keep their food clean. We considered all this when creating this “Best,” “Better,” and “Worst” list.

As you read this list, remember, as we’ve mentioned before, it is nearly impossible to source organic or conventional fruits, veggies, and grains that are 100% heavy-metal- or contaminant-free, as some occur naturally in the soil.

Therefore, we’re looking for baby food with the lowest levels of these contaminants.

We also made notes about packaging, as glass is best. However, you can’t have it all in most cases unless you make it yourself.

Finally, while reducing heavy metal exposure is essential, ensuring your baby is getting a diverse blend of healthy foods in their diet is even more important.

Consuming fresh fruits and vegetables, which are high in vitamin C, calcium, and iron, along with proteins from various sources, helps reduce the body’s absorption of heavy metals. [3]

So, reducing exposure is only part of the equation, albeit an important part. All that said, let’s dive into the results of our investigation.

The Best, Better, and Worst Organic Baby Foods

The “Best” baby foods listed here provided us with transparent information and COAs and had the lowest levels of contaminants.

The “Better” category did not provide COAs but publically acknowledged the issue of contaminants in baby food and have demonstrated evidence of third-party testing and stricter standards, such as adhering to EU testing standards (which are much more stringent for heavy metals than American) and being Clean Labels Project certified or awarded*.

The “Worst” refused to provide COAs, ignored our requests, had nothing or very vague information about testing on their websites, and/or had evidence of unacceptable contaminant levels in their foods.

I hate to say there is no perfect brand as even the “best” used plastic packaging, but here we present the results of our investigation and let you be the judge.

*The Clean Label Project verifies products’ purity by independently testing for various chemicals of concern, including heavy metals, pesticide residues, and plasticizers.

Top Picks

Best Organic Baby Foods

1. Make fresh baby food at home when possible

Not long ago, all baby food was made at home using a simple food mill. Parents would reserve a few veggies from their meal, combine them with fruit or grains and protein, and blend them up.

Today, it’s even easier to make your own baby food with special food mills or sophisticated baby food makers, which have steamers and blenders in one.

Even if you’re short on time, DIY baby food is typically faster than researching and buying premade baby food. 

It’s also much more economical; you control what goes into your baby’s food and how it’s stored.

Here are some tips to make this as quick and easy as possible:

  1. Focus on mostly a mix of organic vegetables with some organic whole fruits. Lots of parents like starting their babies with a simple mashed avocado, then adding fruits and veggies
  2. Keep it extra clean
    • Since babies are more susceptible to foodborne illness, it is essential you keep your hands clean, wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly with natural soap or a non-toxic produce wash, and make sure storage containers are carefully washed in the dishwasher or in clean, hot, soapy water.
  3. Save time and energy with a baby food maker
    • There are many to choose from based on your needs and budget. We especially like the BEABA Babycook Neo Baby Food Maker because it’s made with non-toxic glass and stainless steel versus plastic and steams and blends in one machine
    • Food mills are also a great option for grinding up baby food manually. 
      • Ideally, plastic baby food mills should be avoided in favor of a traditional stainless steel food mill. A traditional model doesn’t cost more and is much more versatile for other culinary tasks
  4. Baby-led weaning is a popular option that lets you skip purees partially or entirely in favor of tiny bits of soft food. Our friends at Branch Basics (whose co-founders have lots of babies between them) have a helpful Podcast on this topic with registered dietician and mother of 7 Katie Ferraro
  5. Make baby food in small batches and date. The fresher the food, the more nutrient-dense it will be
  6. Use refrigerated baby food within 1-2 days
  7. Tips for freezing baby food: Ideally, baby food should be made and given fresh, but if you must freeze some for convenience: 
    • Flash freeze it as soon as it’s cool to lock in maximum nutrients
    • Leave extra headspace as the food will expand and can crack glass containers
    • Label and date containers (because new parents are sleepy and will forget)
    • Use within 2 months

 

For those times when you can’t make your own, consider these “best” pre-made organic baby food brands.

Lil Gourmets made our “Best” list because they shared their most recent COAs with us, their levels of metals are very low on most products, they’re vegetable-forward vs. fruit-forward, and they received The Clean Label Product Purity Award.

Here are some more pros and cons.

  • Pros
    • They shared their most recent COA results for 6 flavors and were very helpful
    • They received the Clean Label Product Purity Award
    • Their singles and blends focus on a variety of vegetables, not just fruit
    • Most of their products contain less than 3 ppb of Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury, and Lead (with the exception of a few)
    • Their products are easy to buy. You can find them on Amazon or in the refrigerated section of natural food stores
    • Preservative-free
  • Cons:
    • Some of their flavors contain up to 6.9 ppb of Cadmium (although this is significantly less than most brands)
    • Sold in pouches – make sure you don’t serve it in the pouch regularly (use a spoon)

Square Baby is popular among natural foodies and advocates for a good reason: they’re dedicated to making clean baby food…and have the COAs to prove it.

Update: I had a call with the Square Baby co-founders… what a GREAT company they’ve built. They’re extremely transparent with their testing and they offer the most nutritious, well-balanced meals for babies. Bravo!

  • Pros
    • They provided a folder of all recent COAs for their products and were extremely helpful and transparent
    • Most of their products contain less than 3 ppb of Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury, and Lead (with the exception of a few)
    • Non-GMO verified
    • Half the sugar and twice the protein & healthy fats of most pouches
    • Veggie-forward, balanced meals
    • Shipped in a compostable cooler box with dry ice
    • Uses local, sustainable, family-owned farms & protein suppliers
    • Winner of the Clean Label Project “Purity Award”
    • No added sugar, additives, or preservatives (frozen for freshness)
    • Intentionally not sold in pouches for freshness
  • Cons:
    • Some of their flavors contain up to 8.2 ppb of Lead (although this is still significantly less than most brands)
    • Mango Coconut Chicken flavor contains 6.8 ppb of Cadmium
    • Sold in plastic jars
Okay Picks

Better Organic Baby Foods

Little Spoon made the top of our “better” list because they answered our query immediately and do third-party testing to EU standards on all their baby foods, as noted on their website. They would be the “best” of the best if they shared their COA results with us.

They do not sell the food if the tests don’t meet their specifications for over 500 toxins and contaminants.

Here’s a quote: “We rigorously test every batch of our Babyblends at an accredited third-party lab to ensure they meet the European Union (EU) standard. We follow the EU’s guidelines by limiting lead and arsenic to 20 parts per billion (ppb) or less and cadmium to 40 ppb or less. While the EU doesn’t have a limit for mercury, we’ve set our own threshold at 10 ppb or less. For context, 1 part per billion (ppb) is like a single drop of water in an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Although heavy metals are present in the environment both naturally and due to increased pollutants, we’re committed to minimizing exposure through rigorous testing and careful sourcing.” [4]

  • Pros
    • 6 stages of foods to choose from
    • Traceable sourcing from organic, sustainable growers, leading the industry in third-party testing for 500+ metals and other contaminants 
    • They test for BPA and BPS (exceeding EU standards, which are much higher than the FDA’s)
    • Transparent communication on their website
    • Non-GMO verified
    • You can filter by specific dietary needs, such as allergens or sensitivities
    • Great variety of organic baby and toddler foods
    • Preservative-free
  • Cons:
    • Did not share COA results
    • Food is packaged in plastic and pouches, though they claim all packaging is free from BPA and BPS and third-party tested

Another good option! We know a lot of health-conscious parents love Serenity Kids, and we hoped they would make it into the “Best Category.” Unfortunately, they asked us to sign an NDA before providing COAs, which isn’t a stellar sign of transparency.

In fairness, their products appear very clean, and they seem to be going above and beyond (way more so than other organic baby food companies) to produce safe and high-quality products. 

However, signing an NDA would make us unable to share the facts in this investigation, so we declined. If they’re more transparent in the future, we’ll gladly move them to the “best” category.

  • Pros
    • Offers fruit, vegetable, and meat-based options
    • They follow California Prop 65 guidelines for heavy metals
    • They’ve received the Clean Label Purity Award
    • Non-GMO verified
    • They claim their suppliers “conduct testing on their own soil, have robust food safety programs, and undergo the most rigorous food safety audit, SQF Level III”
    • They claim to be committed to supporting organic and regenerative agriculture and even provide a page with links to the farms they work with
    • They source A2 dairy for their toddler formula, which may be more digestible and less allergenic for certain people
    • They claim to test heavy metals in all their products
  • Cons:
    • Since they would not supply COAs without a signed NDA, we have no way to verify if their products are truly safe and low or free from heavy metals and contaminants
  • Pros
    • They are Proposition 65 compliant: “As a baseline, all of our products meet or exceed all current active standards, including California’s Proposition 65 standards and the European Union’s stringent regulations.”
    • They claim they will be self-publishing heavy metal and contaminant levels by the end of 2024
    • Their foods are preservative-free through the use of steaming, in a process called “retort”
    • “We use this because it gives us high nutrition levels AND the convenience of not having to be refrigerated! It also contains no bacteria after we steam it, which is important to us as it aids in keeping kids safe.”
    • Shelf-stable for up to 18 months
    • Non-GMO verified
  • Cons:
    • Refused to share test results or COAs, so we cannot verify the purity of their products
    • Sold in pouches
  • Pros
    • Widely available in all types of grocery stores
    • Non-GMO
    • Creative purees with fruits, veggies, grains, and fibers
    • Generally affordable
    • Received the Clean Label Project Purity Award
    • Claim to “Test every lot of finished product for quality & food safety criteria”
    • They also claim to test for nutrient levels
    • There are a few options for toddlers or baby-led weaning, though some are high in sugar
  • Cons:
    • Owned by Danone
    • Refused to share COA results, so we cannot verify contaminant levels
    • Packaged in pouches with no information about BPA, BPS, phthalates, etc
    • Some finger foods are high in sugar, like Yogis
  • Pros
    • Widely available in all types of grocery stores
    • Lots of variety
    • Non-GMO
    • Generally affordable
    • Available in glass, plastic, or pouches
    • Clean Label Project certified
  • Cons:
    • Owned by Nestle
    • They did not reply to our COA requests after repeated attempts, so we cannot verify the purity of their products
    • Owned by Nestle, a large corporation with questionable ethics and a reputation for lack of transparency. We wouldn’t normally put a Nestle brand in the “better” category, but it appears they are taking steps to ensure a safer product
  • Pros
    • They employ European testing standards for contaminants, which are much more stringent than the FDA’s. Contaminants tested for include: [5
      • Lead
      • Cadmium
      • Mercury
      • Arsenic
      • PFOAs (forever chemicals)
      • PAHs
    • Their grain cereals and toddler drinks received the Clean Label Purity award, and they claim to be working on getting this award for their other products [6]
    • Committed to sustainability
    • Non-GMO verified
    • They are the first Demeter Certified Biodynamic baby food brand
      • Biodynamic farming takes organic farming to a whole new level and employs various methods, science-based and esoteric, to create high-quality organic food products, protect ecosystems, care for animals humanely, and draw carbon into the soil
      • Here’s a quote from their website: “Approximately 80% of our products globally carry the Demeter seal, the highest standard internationally for holistic, ecological, and ethical farming practices.” [7]
  • Cons:
    • Like other brands, we would love to put Holle in the “best” category. However, they did not respond to our COA requests after repeated attempts
  • Pros
    • They make several claims about their commitment to clean organic baby food and reaching “close to zero” status, including: [8]
      • Testing over 400 ingredients
      • Prioritizing variety to help reduce contaminants and provide optimal nutrition
      • Working with leading experts about ways to help decrease children’s dietary exposure to toxic metals
      • Routine third-party testing of products 
      • Testing by the Clean Label Project
    • They are the first fresh baby food brand made available for the WIC™ program
    • Climate Pledge friendly
  • Cons: 
    • They did not reply to our COA requests after repeated attempts, so we cannot verify the purity of their products
  • Pros
    • Widely available in all types of grocery stores
    • Creative purees with fruits, veggies, grains, seeds, and fibers
    • Packaged in pouches or glass jars
    • They claim their ingredients are tested for over 250 contaminants and that finished purees go through up to 20 tests (we could not verify this) [9
    • Their in-house chemical testing lab has gained ISO 17025 Certification, a global accreditation for scientific testing labs
    • They have some helpful information about heavy metals in foods on their website, so there is transparency
    • They are taking steps to lower heavy metals by going rice-free and peeling certain ingredients that tend to be higher in heavy metals, like carrots and sweet potatoes
    • Their website bears this statement regarding the future of heavy metal testing and partnerships: 
      • “Beech-Nut is fully committed to working with the FDA on the agency’s action plan and believes that establishing science-based FDA “action levels” for the presence of  naturally occurring heavy metals & metalloids in baby food is what is best for our industry and the families we serve.”
  • Cons:
    • Refused to share COA results, so there’s no way of verifying contaminant levels 
    • While we applaud their obvious efforts to test their foods and raise awareness, we’d like to see greater transparency by sharing test results and their specs for upper limits of specific heavy metals
  • Pros
    • Amara claims their unique dehydration process creates a more nutritious, shelf-stable baby food without heating or preservatives. Just mix with water, breastmilk, or formula to create desired consistency [10]
    • They claim their packaging uses 12X less plastic than traditional baby food pouches
    • Non-GMO certified
    • They claim their products are “safe and third-party tested”
  • Cons:
    • Amara did not respond to our requests for COAs after several attempts
    • Their answer in their site’s FAQs on: “do your products contain heavy metals?” wasn’t very transparent or helpful. You can read it here. If they’re testing as they claim to be, they should share their results and/or be more specific

Notes: We were on the fence about whether to include Amara in the “Better” or “Worst” category based on the pros, cons, and lack of transparency about their testing claims. 

However, we feel their unique dehydration process, vs. repeated heating, earns them a spot in the “better” category. 

We hope they’ll be more transparent about testing in the future.

  • Pros
    • Widely available
    • Non-GMO Project verified
    • Lots of variety, including single fruit and veggie purees and other healthy ingredients like quinoa, prebiotics fibers, and organic dairy and seeds
    • They are taking steps to mitigate heavy metals in baby foods. Here’s a quote from their website: 
      • “Given that FDA standards [for heavy metals in baby foods] don’t yet exist, here’s what we are doing to keep our products safe. Put simply, we set ourselves tough standards against which we test, test, and test again. We took our lead from Calaforinia’s Proposition 65 and the European Union’s legislation to set ourselves rigorous limits and test every ingredient and production lot to keep our products safe.”
  • Cons:
    • Did not reply to our COA request, so we can’t verify contaminants or their established upper limits 
    • We love that they are aware of this issue, talking about it publicly, and taking what appear to be positive steps. However, we wish they’d be more transparent by sharing their COAs
    • Only available in pouches with no mention of BPA, BPS, or phthalate-free
  • Pros
    • Unique focus on essential brain nutrients for growing babies, like omega-3s, DHA, EPA, and choline (this is great!)
    • They are part of the Clean Label Project and have been awarded their Purity Product award
    • They also claim to go a step further: [11]
      • “We choose to use ingredients known to have lower levels of heavy metals; avoid ingredients (like rice) high in heavy metals; and carefully choose the region of origin for our fruits & vegetables. Moreover, the fruits & veggies included in Little Brainiac® pouches are tested for potential contaminants prior to use.”
    • They have a scientific advisory board of neurologists and nutrition scientists
    • Certified B Corp
    • Non-GMO project verified
  • Cons:
    • They refused to share COA results, so we have no way of verifying product purity
Best organic baby food
Avoid These If Possible

Worst Organic Baby Foods: Pass on These Brands

While these organic options may be better than conventional choices—especially for avoiding pesticide residues, they’re not our top picks, usually because they refused to provide COAs.

NOTE: If any of these companies would like to reach out and share their COAs and test results, we’d be happy to move them to the “best” or “better” category if the results are favorable.

Of course, a fed and nourished baby is the priority, so don’t stress if you use one of these brands. 

We are all doing our very best based on what we know, our lifestyles, what’s available, and resources.

  • Pros
    • Widely available
    • 100% organic fruits and vegetables
    • Lots of variety
    • Baby and toddler foods and snacks (though some are high in sugar)
    • Climate Pledge Friendly
    • Available in glass jars or pouches
  • Cons: 
    • Owned by Hain Celestial Group
    • Refused to share test results or COA
    • Their customer service team believes that: “There is no scientific basis to believe that the trace levels that exist in our food supply, including in commercial baby food, pose any risk of harm to consumers.” This is misleading and false
    • Many of their snacks, like the bars, are high in sugar and contain questionable ingredients like “natural flavor”
    • Many of their baby foods are packaged in pouches with no information on BPA, BPB, phthalates, or other plastic chemicals
  • Pros
    • Widely available
    • Creative purees with superfoods and protein options, like organic chicken or yogurt
    • They use lemon juice as an acidifier vs. ascorbic or citric acid
    • No artificial ingredients
    • They shared their redacted COA results for a couple of products
      • Arsenic amounts ranged between 2-5 ppb for most, with the Curlz Snacks (not for babies) at 13-15 ppb
      • Cadmium amounts ranged between <1-8 ppb. Veggie power bowl was 11 ppb
      • Lead amounts ranged between 1-9 ppb. 
      • Mercury amounts ranged between <0.001 – 1 ppb
    • They recognize a problem with heavy metals in baby foods but aren’t very clear on what they are doing to mitigate this in their products. Here’s a quote from their website:
      • “The FDA released its action plan titled Closer to Zero, which outlines the approach it will take to ensure the wellbeing of our babies and toddlers while considering the reality that heavy metals are endemic to our food supply and impossible to remove entirely. We are working diligently to incorporate this approach into our business and encourage all interested parties to read the plan and gain a deeper understanding of this topic.”
  • Cons:
    • It is not clear what they are doing to mitigate heavy metals, no mention of testing or upper limits
    • They redacted quite a few things on their COA
    • Many toddler snacks are high in sugar
    • According to their COAs, some products had higher levels of metals than are optimal
    • Purees and foods are packaged in pouches or plastic jars
  • Pros
    • Easy to order on Amazon
    • 100% organic ingredients
    • Generally more affordable than other brands
  • Cons:
    • Owned by Amazon
    • Did not reply to COA request, so we have no way of verifying contaminant levels
    • No mention of the issues surrounding contaminants or heavy metals in baby foods or a plan to mitigate this
    • Limited variety of flavors
    • Packaged in plastic or pouches
  • Pros
    • Creative purees with ingredients not found every day, like purple carrot
    • They use lemon juice as an acidifier vs. ascorbic or citric acid
    • Larger size pouches for toddlers or big eaters
    • Generally widely available, though not as much as other organic brands
  • Cons:
    • Owned by Sun-Maid
    • Did not reply to COA request, so we have no way of verifying contaminant levels
    • Only packaged in pouches with no information about BPA, BPS, phthalate, or other plastic chemicals
    • Although they address that there are issues with heavy metals in their FAQs (this is difficult to find, you have to search “heavy metals” on their site), their answers aren’t helpful or telling [12]
      • For example, when asked “Can you share your standards for measuring heavy metals?” they reply: “Today, in the United States, there is no federal standard on heavy metals in baby food. Plum stands ready to work with regulators on creating one. Plum uses a combination of guidance from leading health and regulatory bodies to create a protocol for evaluating heavy metals in products.” Which doesn’t mean much, does it?
      • Here’s another FAQ example that speaks volumes about contaminants in packaging: “Our packaging is made of materials that meet all government standards and regulations for food contact. We want to assure you that Plum products are safe to eat and we are confident in the safety of our packaging. We are not aware of any lead leaching from our packaging.” Again, not very transparent

Where to Find These Clean Organic Baby Foods

Wow, that was a lot of info to take in! 

We hope this investigation will serve as a reference for health-conscious parents to help simplify how to choose the best organic baby foods.

To buy the clean organic baby foods mentioned here, click the links above or shop In On Around

Thrive Market also has an excellent selection of high-quality organic brands like Cerebelly, Serenity Kids, Little Brainiac, and Amara.

Wondering About Baby Formula?

Many of these “best” and “better” brands also carry organic baby formulas. You can read more about clean baby formula here: Safe, Non-Toxic Baby Formula Free Of Heavy Metals.

Need Some Help Creating A Healthy, Low-Tox Home For Baby?

Let me know your thoughts and key takeaways in the comments below!

Having a baby is one main reason people choose healthier foods and household products.

Need some extra support on your family home detox journey? Book a consult, download the Beginner’s Guide, take the course.

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Frequently Asked Questions – The Best Organic Baby Food Brands

Click on the below FAQs to learn more about organic food for babies or the best organic baby food delivery. 

Organic baby food is free from pesticides, artificial additives, and GMOs, ensuring healthier options for your baby.

While nutrient levels are similar, organic baby food voids harmful chemicals, making it a safer choice for infants.

Many parents report that organic baby food has a fresher taste, as it is made with high-quality, natural ingredients.

Look for USDA Organic certification or similar labels, which ensure the food meets strict organic farming and production standards. 

About Catherine Power

Catherine Power is the Founder and CEO of In On Around. She is a Harvard-educated Ingredient Safety and Environmental Toxins expert. Catherine has a background in Food Science, Personal Care Quality, and Regulatory Compliance.

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