Organic baby food: Is it worth the price?

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Organic baby food is more expensive than is regular baby food. Does that mean that organic baby food is better?

Answer
from Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
Whether organic baby food is worth the extra expense is up to you.

Organic foods are intended to be produced without conventional pesticides, chemical fertilizers, antibiotics or growth hormones. Feeding your baby organic baby food may limit his or her exposure to these substances. Generally, however, long-term studies haven't shown organic foods to be more nutritious than nonorganic foods.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides organic seals for products that contain various percentages of organic ingredients — but the USDA makes no claims or guarantees that organic foods are safer or more nutritious than are nonorganic foods.

Some parents prefer organic baby food because it's environmentally friendly. Others feel that organic baby food is healthier or simply tastes better. What's most important, however, is a balanced diet. Offering your child healthy foods from the beginning — whether they're organic or not — will set the stage for a lifetime of healthy eating.

Organic baby food: Is it worth the price?
Jay L. Hoecker, M.D
MayoClinic.com

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