Organic Food Bad for Baby?

Believe it or not, Which? Magazine and The London Telegraph have reported results of a study undertaken by the former which indicated that organic baby food is less healthy than previously believed.

The report showed that iron content was low in organic baby food; too low, argued the Which? piece. In addition, under current legal guidelines dictating the composition of baby food labeled "organic," the addition of iron is prohibited. As a result, commercially prepared organic products contain some twenty percent less iron, thereby implying that baby will need to consume twenty percent more to get the daily recommended allowance of the mineral.

Some mass-produced organic baby food products have been found to be oversaturated, causing a reduction in other nutrients as well. And just because those additives are natural doesn't mean they're good for your baby.

Also brought to the attention of the consumer was the danger in parental complacency regarding organic snack foods. Because the restrictions regarding food designed for those over one year in age are significantly loosened, sodium and sugar contents increase. Indeed, because of their well-known characteristics as flavor enhancers, these two ingredients can easily be abused by an organic production company wanting their food to be as tasty as possible.

Of course, one consideration must be made when looking over the Which? survey results is that all products studied had one thing in common: They were all products.

The fact of the matter is that, ultimately, should you want ultimate control over what and how much your baby eats, you have no choice but to make it yourself, plain and simple.

Organic baby food must be prepared at home from organic fruit and vegetables (and, if you are comfortable with the source, meat products) selected by you. Fresh food - absolutely not frozen, even if it happens in your own freezer - contains the maximum amounts of nutrition. It is also believed by some that creation of food at home inspires good habits in young children, who do not gain such an appetite for junk food.

Should you find feeding your baby commercially-produced organic food, there is little cause for worry. There is, however, great cause for reading labels and researching. Remember that baby can't read and you can. Do so until it becomes habit, and you baby can receive all the benefits of organic baby food.

Undertaken at about the same time as the Which? survey was an article appearing in "Coronary and Diabetic Care in the United Kingdom," 2004 edition. Working with commercially-available organic baby food, Policy Project Coordinator James Cleeton confirmed all that organic food adherents already know. The piece stated that an organic diet reduces intake of toxins; eliminates intake of genetically modified organisms; nearly eliminates intake of additives, preservatives and coloring; and increases vitamin, mineral and nutritive intake. An organic baby food diet may also, concluded the study, reduce the chances of heart ailments, cancer, allergies and hyperactivity.

Studies and statistics aside, the most effective tool in the fight to keep your baby's diet clean and organic is your mind. The importance of knowing what goes in your baby's mouth cannot be understated, and in today's world lay more potentially dangers in the grocery aisles than ever before. A little education can go a long way. And remember, organic baby food all means simply a happier and healthier baby.