There are few other joys comparable to welcoming a newborn baby into the world. Time often flies by and within no time, you’ll need to feed the baby with solid food. Non-organic food for babies often contains fruits and vegetables that have traces of chemical pesticides. Meats have growth hormones and antibiotics. These non-organic food pouches also include artificial colours or flavours, thickening agents, starchy fillers, and preservatives.
Organic baby food, on the other hand, provides a better alternative free from dangerous chemicals that may adversely affect your child. In order for food to display organic labels, the manufacturers must ensure that it meets the strict regulations and standards set by the government. This means that the manufacturer must use at least 95% natural ingredients for the food to be classified as organic. This will include all the processes of food production from growing to packaging to shipping.
Organic food should not contain synthetic pesticides, preservatives, genetically modified hormones, ionizing radiation, synthetic growth hormones, or petroleum-based fertilizers. Also, no hormones or antibiotics are allowed in meats, dairy products, and poultry. The animals should only eat organic food and live in apt housing conditions so that their well-being, safety, and health are not jeopardised.
Does organic food contain preservatives or additives?
A lingering question in the minds of many parents is—what ingredients are used in the remaining 5%? The regulations state that organic ingredients used should be at least 95% so this means that preservatives still have to be used. The most common additives used in fruits and vegetables in the organic baby food pouches include lemon juice concentrate, Citric acid, or Ascorbic acid (synthetic Vitamin C). Citric acid is also used to give food the citric flavour.
Health effects of the preservatives
Health experts discovered that the acidic nature of the preservatives used in the foods can cause stomach upset in babies. This is particularly true if the baby’s food already has another acidic fruit such as grapes or pineapples. Acidic food is not bad for the baby, but it should not be part of a regular diet. Acidic food, however, is not recommended for babies under one year old because their stomachs are still sensitive.
Store bought or homemade baby food
Food is often cooked at high temperatures to kill bacteria, prevent contamination, and lengthen shelf life. However, this process kills almost all the nutrients in the food. Store bought food also contains artificial preservatives and other synthetic additives. On the other hand, homemade food does not contain such additives and this is why it is more nutritious for babies. In addition, almost all the ingredients used in preparing homemade food are organic and fresh.
Store bought food offers more convenience, especially for busy parents with professional careers. Furthermore, the ready pouches contain several ingredients in one container so the babies will be able to consume even the foods they dislike such as green vegetables. When buying organic food at the store, ensure the labels clearly indicate that actual and not synthetic ingredients have been used.
