Organic Baby Food

Feeding your baby green

by the Singapore Environmental Council (www.sec.org)

As custodians of children’s health, it is important for parents to start their baby on a nutritious and wholesome diet. It is thus not surprising that there is a growing trend towards organic baby food as more environmentally and health conscious parents embrace the benefits of going organic. What is unique about organic baby food? Is it significantly better than conventional food? 
 

Getting it right from the start 

The appeal of organic food for many stems from the perceived health and environmental benefits as organic food is a plant and animal food produced naturally without the use of pesticides, antibiotics or growth hormones with a special emphasis on animal welfare and sustainability. 

Organic baby food has developed an increasingly strong following among parents who are motivated to keep their children, especially babies off chemicals-tainted regular produce. Babies and young children are very susceptible to environmental toxins, and their rapidly developing organs and systems are easily damaged by chemical exposure. Babies consume more food per pound of body weight as compared to adults, thus their little bodies are inevitably more sensitive from exposure to toxins from conventionally grown food.

Processed baby food contains trace amounts of additives and preservatives, as well as ingredients such as sugar and salt which are not beneficial or essential for your baby’s diet until he/she is much older. Moreover, the elimination of artificial additives and preservatives in organic baby food also means there are lesser ingredients to trigger off the onset of allergy development in your baby, on top of reducing the incidence of contracting chronic health maladies such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and certain types of cancer. 

Although the American Academy of Pediatrics reported that “there is no evidence that organic, natural, or health foods are any more nutritious or taste better than regular foods”, Consumer Reports (an independent and non-profit organisation producing fair analyses of products) is recommending parents to select organic baby food for their infants whenever possible to minimise potential health risks after conducting detailed analyses of baby food products available on the market. 

There are many reasons that parents choose the green and organic way to raise their children.  [A quote from a buyer of organic baby food?] 

To ensure a holistic approach to starting your baby on an organic diet, it is advisable to go organic even before you conceive.  It is also advisable to consult your child’s physician for additional information and recommendation before starting the use of organic food for your child’s dietary needs. 

In hoping to build a foundation for a long, healthy life for your child, choosing organic produce for your baby seems a logical first step. In this age in which many children suffer from obesity and illnesses, giving organic food to our children is one of the best ways in safeguarding their health as well as the health of our planet. 

The Singapore Environment Council and SuperNature contributed to this story.