Organic baby food: is it worth it?

The short version

Organic is a way of farming and a label with legal rules. It’s a fine choice if it suits your family and budget, but it isn’t something your baby needs. In a 2012 clinical report, the AAP found that organic diets expose children to fewer pesticides, but that the evidence doesn’t show any meaningful nutritional benefit, and no well-designed studies show that eating organic food protects health or prevents disease. The AAP’s 2024 food safety advice says the same: organic foods are not shown to be more nutritious, but may have lower pesticide residues.

What matters most for your baby is eating a wide variety of fruit, vegetables, grains and protein foods, whether they’re organic or not (AAP).

What “organic” means

In the US, the USDA’s National Organic Program sets the rules, and a USDA-accredited certifier must oversee the farm or company and approve organic labels (USDA). Organic food must be produced:

• with practices that protect soil and water quality, minimize the use of synthetic materials and conserve biodiversity
• without genetic engineering, ionizing radiation or sewage sludge
• using only allowed substances

The label tells you how much of the product is organic (USDA):

• “100% organic”: all ingredients are organic (not counting salt and water). May carry the USDA organic seal.
• “Organic”: at least 95% organic ingredients. May carry the seal.
• “Made with organic …”: at least 70% organic ingredients. No seal allowed.

In the UK, food can only be labeled organic if it meets organic production rules, at least 95% of its farm ingredients are organic, and it’s certified by an approved organic control body (Defra).

What organic changes

• Fewer pesticide residues. Organic diets expose people to fewer pesticides (AAP report), and organic foods may have lower pesticide residue levels (AAP). No well-designed studies yet show that this protects health, the AAP report says.
• The environment. The AAP report found that organic farming has less impact on the environment than conventional farming.

What organic doesn’t change

• Nutrition. The AAP report found that the evidence doesn’t support any meaningful nutritional benefit from organic food, and the AAP says organic foods are not shown to be more nutritious. An organic carrot and a regular carrot give your baby essentially the same nutrients.
• Heavy metals. Arsenic, lead and cadmium get into food from soil, water and processing. The AAP says organic baby foods often contain similar levels of heavy metals as non-organic ones. Variety, rotating grains and skipping juice help far more: see heavy metals in baby food and rice and arsenic.
• Sugar, salt and texture. An organic pouch can still be mostly puréed fruit, and smooth. The NHS advice for any jar or pouch applies: choose the one with the least sugar, and move on to mashed and finger foods. See baby food pouches.
• Food safety. Organic fruit and vegetables still need washing, and organic meat, fish and eggs still need cooking to safe temperatures. See food safety at home.

Wash all fruit and vegetables

Wash produce whether it’s organic or not. The FDA and AAP both say so, and it applies to produce from your garden, a farmers’ market or the supermarket (FDA).

• Wash your hands first, then wash produce under running water just before you prepare or eat it (FDA).
• Don’t use soap, detergent or produce wash: produce is porous and can absorb them (FDA).
• Scrub firm produce, like melons and cucumbers, with a clean brush, and wash it even if you’ll peel it, so germs on the skin aren’t carried inside by the knife (FDA).
• Dry it with a clean towel (FDA).
• The AAP says washing produce well under cold running water removes residues on the surface. Cooking produce also kills harmful germs (FDA).

Bagged produce labeled “pre-washed” or “ready to eat” can be used without washing again (FDA).

Don’t let the cost hold you back

The AAP report notes that organic food regularly costs more. The AAP’s advice is clear: eating fresh or frozen produce is what matters most, and families should not skip fruit and vegetables because organic isn’t available or affordable (AAP).

Some ways to make it work:

• Buy conventional, and wash it well. It’s a healthy choice.
• Use frozen and canned. Frozen fruit and vegetables, and canned ones without added salt or sugar, are good value. See feeding on a budget.
• Mix and match. If you’d like some organic food, the AAP suggests considering it, when you can, for the produce known to carry the most pesticide residue, rather than for everything.
• Cook at home. The AAP says homemade baby food can be less expensive than store-bought: see homemade vs store-bought baby food.

Other ways to lower pesticide exposure

The AAP’s advice for parents also covers pesticides around the home:

• Keep pest sprays, weed killers, flea treatments and similar products out of children’s reach, and never put them in containers that could be mistaken for food or drink.
• Choose the least toxic pest control, and keep children off the lawn after chemical fertilizer has gone down.
• If you work with pesticides, change clothes and shoes before you come home.

If your child may have swallowed or touched a pesticide: call Poison Control on 1-800-222-1222 right away, especially if they show signs such as dizziness, muscle twitching, a rash or burning eyes (AAP). If they’re struggling to breathe, having a seizure or not responding, call 911.call 999 or go to A&E (NHS). If you’re not sure whether what they touched or swallowed is harmful, call NHS 111.call your poison center right away. If they’re struggling to breathe, having a seizure or not responding, call your local emergency number (such as 112 in Europe or 000 in Australia).

Where US and UK advice differs

• Labels. In the US, the USDA has three organic label levels (100%, 95% and 70%), and only the first two can carry the USDA seal. In the UK, products labeled organic need at least 95% organic farm ingredients and certification by an approved control body (Defra).
• Poisoning help. In the US, the AAP says to call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) if a child has been in contact with a pesticide. In the UK, the NHS says to call 999 or go to A&E if a child may have swallowed, touched or breathed in something harmful, and to call 111 if you’re not sure.
• The main message is the same. The AAP doesn’t ask families to buy organic, and the NHS weaning advice focuses on variety, texture and low sugar, not on organic food.