Organic Baby Food Stats

Organic Baby Food Stats: Sales

While organic baby food is only a very small part of the baby food market overall, it has been growing by leaps and bounds. Organic baby food stats for sales show that in 2006, sales were at $116 million. That is an amazing 21.6 percent increase over the previous year.

Baby food overall has only grown by a little over three percent. So even though organic baby food may cost an average of 30 percent more than non-organic varieties, parents obviously feel that the extra cost is worth it.

Why Organic?

Why do parents feel that organic baby food is worth paying that extra 30 percent? There are several reasons why organic is better for babies. Consider this: in a study conducted by the Environmental Working Group of eight different non-organic baby foods, 16 different pesticide residues were found.

Why should this be a concern? Babies are far more prone to the adverse affects of pesticides in their food. This is due in part to their small size as well as the immaturity of their digestive and immune systems. Also, on a pound-for-pound basis, babies consume more food, water, and air than adults do. This means that their exposure level is much higher than ours.

A Real Risk

If you need more reasons to go organic, think about this. Pesticides, by their nature, are designed to kill insects. Children who ingest pesticides are at an increased risk of developing illnesses such as:

• Cancer
• Neurological problems
• Developmental problems
• Reproductive damage

Studies have shown that organic baby foods make a difference in the level of toxins in your baby’s body. Toddlers who are fed organically have been shown to have one sixth of the pesticides in their urine as children who do not eat organic foods. It stands to reason that reducing a baby’s exposure to toxins will be healthier for the baby.

Finding Organic Baby Food

Organic baby food is getting very easy to find. Gone are the days of shopping only in organic food stores. Organic baby food is commonly sold right along side of conventional baby foods.

• Gerber has expanded its line of USDA certified organic baby foods to include baby cereal, juice, mini fruits and Gerber’s line of 1st Foods, 2nd Foods and 3rd Foods designed to offer healthy foods for every stage in your baby’s life. You can also print off money-saving coupons from their site to help offset some of that 30 percent price increase!

• Earth’s Best has a full line of certified organic baby foods and infant formula. You can buy online or try their store locator. Don’t forget to get your money-saving coupons when you sign up for their newsletter.

• In October of 2006, Abbott Laboratories launched Similac Organic as the first organic alternative in baby formulas.

Beyond Baby Food

If your baby is too young for baby food, this doesn’t mean the risk of exposure is still far off. Even mother’s breast milk has been shown to contain more than the maximum recommended exposure to pesticides.

Your safest bet is to start enjoying the benefit of organic foods and household products before you conceive. However, it is never too late to start!

One study, conducted by Dr. Alex Lu from Emory University in Atlanta, found that when children changed their diet to organic foods, the pesticide residue in their urine disappeared almost immediately. Pesticides were not found again until the children when back to their normal diets.

Other Organic Products

Don’t just leave it at food, though. We are exposed to hundreds of toxins in our homes from the products that we use. Make sure you use organic products whenever possible. You can find organic lawn care products, organic bedding and organic household cleaners. Really, every area of your life can be improved though organics. Isn’t your baby’s health worth it?