This standard doesn’t mean that all baby formula brands are exactly the same. But any of the major brands, such as Enfamil, Similac, or Gerber, as well as store brands from Walmart, Target, or Kroger, will meet your baby’s basic nutritional needs when prepared and fed as directed. Never make your own homemade baby formula, which can be very dangerous to your baby’s health (it may not offer complete nutrition and there is a risk of introducing harmful bacteria). Babies should get breast milk or an infant formula sold in stores in the U.S.
FDA Regulation
Neither store-brand or name-brand infant formula is FDA approved. Instead, manufacturers of infant formula are “subject to FDA’s regulatory oversight. Manufacturers must ensure that infant formula complies with federal nutrient requirements. Manufacturers are required to register with FDA and provide the agency with a notification before marketing a new formula.” This is similar to the way the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration controls car seats sold in the U.S. The federal agency sets the regulations and standards for the products (car seats or infant formula) and the manufacturers are responsible for meeting those requirements.
Baby Formula Choices
Although all infant formula must meet FDA requirements, there are differences among brands. Not even considering the differences between milk-based, soy, lactose-free, hydrolyzed, and hypo-allergenic formulas, milk-based formulas aren’t exactly the same. Just like adults, babies need protein, fat, and carbohydrates in their diet. Infant formulas sometimes differ in which specific proteins, fats, and carbohydrates they feature. Breast milk has two protein sources: whey and casein. Some infant formulas have both of these proteins, while others only have whey. All meet the FDA’s requirements. Similarly, infant formulas can differ in the type of fat they use. No randomized, head-to-head study shows that one brand is better for your baby than another. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend specific brands, but simply says that for infants receiving formula, cow’s milk-based formulas should be the first choice for most babies. Its recommendation states: “The AAP believes that there are few circumstances in which soy formula should be chosen instead of cow milk–based formula in term infants.”
Types of Store Brand Baby Formulas
Generic or store brand infant formulas are very similar to national brands. They even use similar marketing terms, including:
Advantage = AdvanceGentle = GentleaseSensitivity = SensitiveTender = Gentle
Most store-brand baby formulas contain DHA and ARA, prebiotics, and nucleotides, just like brand-name infant formulas. Almost all—including store brands made for Walmart (Parent’s Choice), Target (up & up), Walgreens (Well Beginnings), and Kroger (Comforts for Baby), etc.—are made by the same manufacturer: Perrigo Nutritionals.
Formula Warnings
It is important to avoid formula imported from outside the U.S. It is not necessarily subject to FDA regulation, so it may not meet babies’ nutritional needs or meet American standards for safety. Further, it may be difficult for parents to read labels and follow directions on formulas imported from Europe and elsewhere. A 2019 study of European formulas found that “Non-FDA-registered imported European formulas do not meet all FDA-labeling requirements… These European infant formulas are being imported into the United States via third party vendors and are not FDA-regulated, limiting the notable consumer protections set by the FDA that ensure infant formula safety.”
A Word From Verywell
Like brand-name baby formula, store-brand baby formula meets the same nutrient specifications that are listed in FDA regulations. Parents should feel comfortable using either type of formula, whether alone or in combination with breastfeeding. If you have questions or concerns about your baby’s nutrition, talk with your pediatrician.
