By Alison Heyerdahl

The formula shortage crisis has been a few months in the making. It started in February 2022 when suspected contamination of Similac led to the recall of products countrywide and shutting down of a manufacturing plant in Michigan. This plant supplied as much as a fifth of the infant formula products on the market. It is also a critical supplier of specialized formula products for babies with allergies or other health conditions.

Another reason the U.S. is suffering such a shortage is because it imports almost no infant formula from abroad. Firstly, there is a 17.5% tax on any product that is brought in and regulatory policies make it almost impossible for formula makers outside of the U.S. to sell to customers in the States.

In our previous article, we spoke about various formula alternatives following the recall in February 2022. However, many of the formulas we reviewed were manufactured in the U.S. We have also recently discovered that the infant formula produced in the States, Bobbie, is no longer accepting new clients, simply because it cannot keep up with the demand. Desperate parents are now looking online to find formula products from other countries. This article will highlight a few formula brands that can be imported.

Holle

A top Swiss brand, Holle is known for producing high-quality organic products. It is FDA approved and can be legally imported into the U.S. Holle’s ingredients come from strict biodynamic farming practices and do not contain any genetically modified organisms (GMOs). It is also iron-fortified and contains high levels of DHA, which is important for brain development. We also liked the fact that Holle does not cause gas, indigestion, or constipation. One drawback is that Holle does not contain pre or probiotics, which will have to be supplemented, and its costs are slightly higher than other similar infant formulas.

HiPP

First developed in the 1950s, in Germany, the HiPP products initially started out as junior food in jars, including vegetable meals and juices. In 1956, Georg Hipp began with the organic cultivation of fruit and vegetables on natural soils without the use of chemicals. Eventually, they started producing organic formula, a product that has gained massive popularity over the years. The HiPP range includes formulas for every stage of development, uses only non-GMO ingredients, and it meets all of the nutrient composition requirements specified by the FDA (a concern some people had about the range). Overall, we would recommend HiPP as a good alternative baby formula that can be ordered online and imported into the U.S.

 Nanny Care Goat Milk Formula

In the early 1990’s the producers of Nanny Care came across the world’s first goat milk-based formula for babies in New Zealand. Inspired by this novel approach to formula, they set out to produce their own. They believed that mothers deserved more of a choice rather than being restricted to cow’s milk-based options only. Additionally, goat’s milk has more similarities with breast milk than cow’s milk does. It is easier on the baby’s digestion and has higher natural levels of nucleotides, taurine, and free amino acids.  There is also a range of products for every stage of development and all the ingredients or GMO-free. Although Nanny Care is based in the United Kingdom, it ships to the USA.

Remember that at Leva, we are here to help! If you need advice, support, or any information, please contact us at contact@levaapp.com.