About Organic
What does 'Organic' mean?
Like all USDA-certified organic food sources, the cow’s milk used in Parent’s
Choice ORGANIC Infant Formula with Iron comes from cows that are not given
antibiotics or added growth hormones. In addition, Parent’s Choice ORGANIC baby
formula is produced without using pesticides and fertilizers, bioengineering,
and ionizing radiation.
In this context, our baby formula is “organic” because it meets the requirements
of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Parent’s Choice ORGANIC baby
formula is manufactured by PBM Nutritionals, the only ISO 9001:2000–certified,
infant formula–manufacturing facility in the United States that is approved by
Quality Assurance International (QAI) to manufacture organic milk-based powder
infant formulas.
In 1990, U.S. Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act, which stipulated
that the USDA establish a set of national uniform standards for organic
agricultural products. The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) was formed to
assist the National Organic Program (NOP) in developing guidelines for
substances to be used in organic production.
The NOSB defines “organic” in the following manner:
Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes
and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is
based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that
restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony.
Organic food handlers, processors and retailers adhere to standards that
maintain the integrity of organic agricultural products. The primary goal of
organic agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent
communities of soil life, plants, animals and people.
USDA’s NOP certification requirements ensure that all products bearing the USDA
organic label originate from farms or handling operations that are
certified-organic by a program-approved state or private organization.
What makes organic products different from non-organic products?
The USDA National Organic Program makes sure that all products bearing the USDA
organic label originate from farms or handling operations that are
certified-organic by a program-approved state or private organization. Program
regulations prohibit the use of the following in organic food production and
handling:
- Genetic engineering
- Ionizing radiation
- Sewage sludge
Crops meet organic standards if they are raised without the following:
- Most conventional pesticides
- Petroleum-based fertilizers
- Sewage sludge-based fertilizers
Livestock must be raised according to the following organic standards:
- Fed organic feed R
- Raised with access to the outdoors
- Raised free of antibiotics or growth hormones
What makes Parent’s Choice ORGANIC baby formula different from other baby
formulas?
Parent’s Choice ORGANIC is the first organic baby formula that contains the
lipids DHA and ARA, nutrients found naturally in mother's milk associated with
infant mental and visual development. Additionally, Parent’s Choice ORGANIC is
offered at a lower price than the national non-organic brands of baby formula,
and is certified organic in accordance with USDA regulations:
- No Pesticides
- No Antibiotics
- No Added Growth Hormones
What makes Parent’s Choice ORGANIC baby formula different from other organic
baby formulas?
Parent’s Choice ORGANIC is the first organic baby formula with the lipids DHA
and ARA, key fatty acids for infant brain and eye development. Featured
at Wal-Mart locations nationwide, Parent’s Choice ORGANIC is also
the first organic infant formula with lipids in national distribution.
Why does Parent’s Choice ORGANIC baby formula contain DHA and ARA?
Parent’s Choice ORGANIC baby formula is specially formulated to meet the
nutritional needs of infants and contains nutrients that occur naturally in
mother's milk:
- Lipids DHA and ARA
- Choline
The lipids DHA and ARA are the key omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for infant
brain and eye development. The lipids in Parent’s Choice ORGANIC baby formula
are derived from natural vegetarian sources.
I currently use a non-organic baby formula. Is it all right to switch to
Parent’s Choice ORGANIC?
You can switch to Parent’s Choice ORGANIC baby formula, but keep in mind
switching from a regular milk-based baby formula to our organic milk-based baby
formula should only be done after consulting with your baby’s pediatrician.
Who manufactures Parent’s Choice ORGANIC baby formula?
Parent’s Choice ORGANIC baby formula is manufactured by PBM Nutritionals in the
same trusted facility that has been manufacturing state-of-the-art infant
formulas for more than 20 years. Parent’s Choice infant formulas are distributed
by PBM Products, the same company that has been distributing Parents Choice
infant formulas for Wal-Mart since 1998.
Located in Georgia, Vermont, PBM Nutritionals is the only domestic manufacturer
of baby formula that adheres to both FDA guidelines and a stringent set of
quality-assurance regulations set by the International Organization for
Standardization. PBM Nutritionals is approved by Quality Assurance International
(QAI) to manufacture organic milk-based powder infant formulas.
Is there anyone I can talk to about the nutritional value of Parent's Choice
ORGANIC?
Our infant formula experts are ready to answer questions about the ingredients
or nutritional value of Parent's Choice Infant Formulas. A toll-free consumer
number, 1-800-272-5095, is on every can.
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