5 Best Non-GMO Baby Formulas
17 min read
Parents shopping for a non-GMO baby formula usually want two things: to know what the label really promises, and to find formulas that carry that promise.
The short answer: no single formula is best for every baby. Certified organic formula, under EU or USDA organic rules, may not use GMOs. A non-GMO line without organic certification is a voluntary claim that rests on the brand's or a certifier's standard. Choose by your baby's age and milk base, and ask your pediatrician before you change formula.
This guide explains those rules from the regulations themselves, then covers five formulas we sell from brands that make non-GMO statements: three certified organic formulas from our organic baby formula collection and two goat milk formulas from Kabrita, which is not organic. For each one we show what the label and the brand say about GMOs, the age on the label and the price.
Disclosure: Formuland sells every formula in this guide. This guide does not rank them. Ingredient facts come from each brand's own label page; prices, sizes and stock come from Formuland, checked November 8, 2026.
What Are GMOs?
FDA describes a GMO (genetically modified organism) as a plant, animal or microorganism whose genetic material (DNA) has been changed using technology that generally involves the specific modification of DNA, including the transfer of specific DNA from one organism to another. Scientists often call this process genetic engineering.
The words on labels differ by country. FDA prefers "genetic engineering" or "bioengineering", and U.S. food labels use "bioengineered". EU labels use "genetically modified".
FDA's consumer page on GMOs says GMO foods are as healthful and safe to eat as their non-GMO counterparts. Choosing a non-GMO baby formula is a personal preference, so the useful question is which rule stands behind the claim on the can.
What "Non-GMO" Means on a Formula Label
Four sets of rules can sit behind the GMO wording on a can of formula, plus voluntary claims that set no GMO threshold of their own. This section is a simplified summary of each rule. They do not all promise the same thing.
EU Organic: GMOs Are Not Allowed
Article 11 of the EU organic regulation, (EU) 2018/848, says GMOs, products produced from GMOs and products produced by GMOs shall not be used in organic production, whether as food, feed, processing aids or animals. The ban covers the feed given to organic dairy animals. Organic certification governs how food is produced; it is not a guarantee of zero incidental traces.
Article 30(4) adds that the organic terms cannot be used on a product for which EU law requires a GMO label. A prepacked EU organic food normally carries the EU organic logo, the code number of its control body and a statement of where the farm ingredients come from (Article 32), so you can see which certifier checked it.
EU GMO Labeling: The 0.9% Rule
Outside organic, Regulations (EC) No 1829/2003 and (EC) No 1830/2003 require food that contains, consists of or is produced from GMOs to say so: 1829/2003 sets the wording, such as "genetically modified" or "produced from genetically modified" next to the ingredient or in a footnote, and 1830/2003 adds traceability rules. Traces of up to 0.9% of an ingredient are exempt, but only when their presence is adventitious or technically unavoidable and the company can show it took steps to avoid them. Intentional use must be labeled at any level.
Two things fall outside EU GMO labeling altogether, according to recital 16 of Regulation 1829/2003: food made with the help of a genetically modified processing aid, and products from animals fed genetically modified feed. EU organic production rules also prohibit GMOs in processing aids and animal feed.
USDA Organic: Excluded Methods Are Prohibited
Under 7 CFR 205.105, a product sold or labeled as "100 percent organic", "organic" or "made with organic" ingredients must be produced and handled without "excluded methods". The definition in 7 CFR 205.2 covers methods used to genetically modify organisms, such as recombinant DNA technology. USDA puts it plainly: an organic farmer can't plant GMO seeds, an organic cow can't eat GMO alfalfa or corn, and an organic producer can't use GMO ingredients. Like EU organic, USDA organic certification is about how food is produced, not a zero-trace test.
The U.S. Bioengineered Label: The 5% Rule
Since January 1, 2022, the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (7 CFR Part 66) has required a disclosure on bioengineered foods: in simplified terms, foods that contain detectable genetic material modified through recombinant DNA techniques in a way not found in nature or obtainable by conventional breeding. The disclosure can be text such as "Bioengineered food", a symbol, or an electronic or digital link.
Its exemptions matter for formula: food certified under the National Organic Program is exempt, and so is a food in which no ingredient intentionally contains a bioengineered substance, as long as inadvertent or technically unavoidable presence stays at or below 5% per ingredient. A food from an animal is not bioengineered just because the animal ate bioengineered feed. Separately, refined ingredients with no detectable modified genetic material, backed by records, fall outside the definition of bioengineered food. A can without the disclosure is therefore not making a non-GMO claim.
Voluntary "Non-GMO" and "GMO-Free" Claims
In the U.S., non-GMO is a voluntary claim. FDA's labeling guidance (revised March 2019), written for foods and ingredients from plants, says such claims must be truthful and not misleading and sets no percentage threshold. It recommends that companies avoid "free" claims, because "free" conveys zero or total absence. The same guidance notes that food meeting USDA organic rules would meet the criteria to be labeled as not produced using bioengineering.
How to Check a Formula Can for GMO Information
Labels answer most of the question if you know where to look. These five checks work for any non-GMO baby formula, imported or U.S.-made.
- Organic logo and code. An EU organic formula shows the EU organic logo and a control body code; a USDA organic product follows 7 CFR Part 205.
- Ingredient list. On EU labels, a genetically modified ingredient carries the words "genetically modified" next to it.
- Bioengineered disclosure. On U.S.-labeled food, look for "Bioengineered food", the symbol or a link; remember the exemptions above.
- The brand's own wording. Read what a non-GMO statement covers: the ingredients, the animals' feed, or both.
- Age and stage. Stage numbers and age ranges differ by brand, so follow the age on the label.
The 5 Non-GMO Baby Formulas in This Guide
The five formulas below follow the order of the original 2017 version of this guide. Two HiPP formulas from that version, Combiotic Hungry Infant Milk and Good Night milk, are no longer sold at Formuland, so this update covers HiPP Dutch Stage 1 and Kendamil Stage 1 Organic in their place. Four are infant formulas; Kabrita Stage 3 is a toddler formula for children over 12 months. Each is listed at Formuland as an EU-labeled version, and EU labels follow a different rulebook from U.S. requirements.
1. Kabrita Goat Milk Toddler Formula Stage 3
Kabrita 3 Peutermelk is a goat milk-based toddler formula labeled for children over 12 months. Its Dutch label lists lactose, skimmed and whole goat milk, goat whey protein concentrate, vegetable oils, GOS (galacto-oligosaccharides), 2'-FL (2'-fucosyllactose), oil from Schizochytrium microalgae and Bifidobacterium animalis cultures. It is not an organic formula, it is not an infant formula, and it is not for babies under 12 months.
On GMOs, Kabrita's Dutch FAQ says no genetically modified organisms are used in producing Kabrita formula. Kabrita's U.S. site adds that its farmers are VLOG certified, "meaning they only use non-GMO feed". Read the can you receive for the current wording.
AAP says most toddlers do not need toddler formula and recommends whole cow's milk from 12 months as part of a balanced diet; some children have special nutritional needs, so check with your pediatrician. Our guide to moving from formula to milk at 12 months covers that step. Goat milk formula is not for children with a cow's milk allergy.
2. Holle Organic Infant Formula Pre
Holle Bio-Anfangsmilch PRE is an organic cow's milk infant formula labeled from birth. On its label, the skimmed milk and skimmed milk powder are Demeter quality (Demeter is a certification for biodynamic farming), the other farm ingredients are organic, and Holle states a total Demeter share of 67%.
The label lists skimmed milk, a whey product, vegetable oils (palm, sunflower and rapeseed), lactose and skimmed milk powder, plus oil from Schizochytrium microalgae and oil from Mortierella alpina. It lists no starch or maltodextrin.
On its product responsibility page, Holle guarantees that it does not use genetically modified raw materials ("Frei von Gentechnik"), and as an organic formula Holle Pre also falls under the EU organic GMO ban. More Holle formulas are in our Holle collection.
3. HiPP Dutch Stage 1 Organic Combiotic Formula
This update replaces HiPP Organic Combiotic Hungry Infant Milk with HiPP Dutch Stage 1. HiPP's Dutch page describes HiPP 1 BIO COMBIOTIK as a complete infant formula based on organic cow's milk, for use from birth. It lists lactose as the only carbohydrate and contains DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which EU law requires in every infant formula.
HiPP UK's FAQ for health professionals states that HiPP products "do not contain any Genetically Modified Organisms", and HiPP Germany points to the EU organic regulation's ban on green genetic engineering. Other stages are in our HiPP collection.
4. Kabrita Goat Milk Infant Formula Stage 1
Kabrita 1 Zuigelingenmelk is a goat milk-based infant formula labeled from birth; Formuland sells the Dutch-labeled can. Its current Dutch label lists lactose, vegetable oils including OPO (1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoyl triglyceride), whole goat milk, goat whey protein concentrate, GOS, 2'-FL, oil from Schizochytrium microalgae and Bifidobacterium animalis cultures. Recipes change, so compare the can you receive.
Like Kabrita 3, it is not organic, and the same GMO wording applies: Kabrita's Dutch FAQ says no GMOs are used in producing its formula, and its U.S. site describes non-GMO feed on VLOG-certified farms. Our Kabrita goat milk formula guide covers the range in more detail.
AAP says babies with a cow's milk allergy should not use goat milk formula because of high rates of cross-reactivity. Plain goat milk is not formula: AAP advises no cow's milk or milk from other animals until about 12 months.
5. Kendamil Stage 1 Organic Formula
This update replaces HiPP Organic Good Night milk with Kendamil Stage 1 Organic, the EU organic version Kendamil sells as BIO Nature 1 in an 800 g can. Its Czech-language label lists organic whole milk, organic whey protein, organic lactose, organic vegetable oils (sunflower, coconut and rapeseed), organic GOS and organic cream, states no palm oil, and says it is for infants from birth to the end of 6 months.
Kendamil lists "Non GMO" among its brand points on its About page, and as an EU organic formula BIO Nature 1 falls under the organic regulation's GMO ban. Our post on Kendamil Organic vs Kendamil Bio Nature explains how the UK and EU versions differ, and the Kendamil collection has the other stages.
Which Non-GMO Baby Formula Fits Your Baby?
No single formula is best for every baby. The right non-GMO baby formula depends on your baby's age, the milk base your pediatrician suggests and which GMO rule matters to you.
- From birth, certified organic: Holle Pre, HiPP Dutch Stage 1 or Kendamil Stage 1 Organic, all cow's milk formulas under the EU organic GMO ban. Our Stage 1 formulas include more options.
- From birth, goat milk: Kabrita Stage 1, which is not organic; read Kabrita's GMO wording above. Organic goat milk formulas from Holle and HiPP are in our goat milk formula collection. Not for a cow's milk allergy.
- From 12 months: AAP recommends whole cow's milk as part of a balanced diet for most children. If your pediatrician suggests a toddler formula, Kabrita Stage 3 is labeled for children over 12 months.
- Any stage: follow the age range on the label; ranges differ by brand.
How to Prepare Non-GMO Baby Formula Safely
Organic or not, a powdered non-GMO baby formula needs the same careful preparation. Powdered infant formula is not sterile; for a baby under 2 months, born prematurely or with a weakened immune system, ask your pediatrician whether a liquid formula fits better, and follow CDC's extra precautions if you use powder. These steps follow CDC guidance; our full guide to preparing and storing baby formula covers water, travel and storage in more detail.
Cleaning and Sanitizing
CDC says to clean bottles after every feeding. Sanitize feeding items daily if your baby is under 2 months old, was born prematurely or has a weakened immune system. A dishwasher with hot water and a heated drying or sanitizing cycle makes a separate sanitizing step unnecessary; boiling items for 5 minutes is another method. Let cleaned items air-dry before you store them.
A Step-by-Step Preparation Guide
- Wash your hands, and clean and sanitize the workspace.
- Use water from a safe source. If you are not sure your tap water is safe, contact your local health department.
- Measure the water first, then add the powder, using the scoop and amounts on your formula's label. Too much water may mean the formula does not meet your baby's needs; too little can make your baby dehydrated.
- For a baby younger than 2 months, born prematurely or with a weakened immune system, CDC advises boiling the water and waiting about 5 minutes before mixing, so the water is still very hot (around 158°F/70°C) to kill germs, then letting the formula cool before feeding. If your formula's label says otherwise, ask your pediatrician.
- Warming is optional. To warm a bottle, hold it under running warm water, keeping the water out of the bottle and nipple, then test a few drops on your wrist. Never use a microwave.
- Use prepared formula within 2 hours of preparation and within 1 hour of when feeding begins. If feeding has not started and you will not use it within 2 hours, refrigerate it at once and use it within 24 hours. Throw out formula left in the bottle after a feed; never save it for later.
- Keep an opened can in a cool, dry place with the lid tightly closed, not in the fridge. Most formulas are used within 1 month of opening, but some labels give a shorter period, so follow your label.
Safety: Never add extra water or extra powder beyond the label amounts. Exact amounts matter for every formula, organic or not (CDC).
Switching Between Formulas
Talk with your pediatrician before you switch formula. Prepare each formula with its own scoop and the water amount on its own label, never swap scoops between brands, and never mix two formulas in one bottle. Our guide to switching formula brands walks through the steps.
Non-GMO Baby Formulas at Formuland
Each non-GMO baby formula in this guide is listed below, with one-time prices for a single unit, checked November 8, 2026. Label version is as stated on our listing.
Formula |
Label version |
Milk base |
Organic |
Age on the label |
Size |
Price (1 unit) |
Dutch (EU) |
Goat milk |
No |
12 months+ |
800 g |
$64.99 |
|
German (EU) |
Cow's milk |
EU organic, Demeter |
From birth |
400 g |
$27.49 |
|
Dutch (EU) |
Cow's milk |
EU organic |
From birth |
800 g |
$49.99 |
|
Dutch (EU) |
Goat milk |
No |
From birth |
800 g |
$64.99 |
|
EU |
Cow's whole milk |
EU organic |
From birth |
800 g |
$54.99 |
Prices are one-time purchases before any multi-pack discount or Subscribe & Save, which takes 7% off eligible items. Formuland offers free U.S. shipping on orders of $100 or more. To compare more labels, see our guide to European vs American formula standards.
The Bottom Line on Non-GMO Formula
A non-GMO baby formula claim is only as strong as the rule behind it. EU and USDA organic certification both exclude GMOs by law. A non-GMO line without organic certification depends on the brand's or a certifier's standard, and the absence of a U.S. bioengineered disclosure is not a non-GMO claim.
EU infant and follow-on formula, organic or not, generally may not contain more than 0.01 mg/kg of residue per pesticide active substance, measured in the formula ready for use, with stricter limits for some substances (Regulation (EU) 2016/127). EU labels follow a different rulebook from U.S. requirements, so choose a non-GMO baby formula with your pediatrician first, then use the label to confirm the GMO wording you care about.
Disclosure: Formuland sells Kabrita, Holle, HiPP and Kendamil formulas, including all five formulas in this guide. This guide does not rank them and makes no health claim for any formula. Decisions about your baby's formula belong with your pediatrician.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best non-GMO baby formula?
No single formula is best for every baby. Start with your baby's age and the milk base your pediatrician suggests, then check which rule stands behind the GMO wording. EU or USDA organic certification excludes GMOs by law; a non-GMO line on a formula that is not organic rests on the brand's or a certifier's standard and, like any label claim, must be truthful and not misleading. The five formulas in this guide cover organic cow's milk formulas (Holle, HiPP and Kendamil) and goat milk formulas (Kabrita).
Is organic baby formula non-GMO?
Organic rules exclude GMOs on both sides of the Atlantic. The EU organic regulation, (EU) 2018/848, bans GMOs and products produced from or by GMOs in organic production, including animal feed. USDA organic rules prohibit "excluded methods" such as recombinant DNA technology, and USDA says an organic cow can't eat GMO alfalfa or corn. In the EU, a product that would need a GMO label cannot be sold as organic, so a certified organic formula is a non-GMO baby formula under those rules.
What does non-GMO mean for infant formula?
It depends on the rule behind the words. In the EU, non-organic food made from GMOs must say "genetically modified" on the label. Only traces at or below 0.9% of an ingredient that are adventitious or technically unavoidable are exempt; intentional use is labeled at any level. In the U.S., non-GMO is a voluntary claim that FDA says must be truthful and not misleading, and FDA recommends that companies avoid "GMO-free" wording, because "free" means zero.
Is non-GMO baby formula better for babies?
Non-GMO wording describes how ingredients were sourced or produced; it is not a reason to pick one formula over another. FDA says GMO foods in general are as healthful and safe to eat as their non-GMO counterparts. Choosing a non-GMO baby formula is a personal preference; choose the formula itself with your pediatrician.
Is goat milk formula non-GMO?
A goat milk formula counts as a non-GMO baby formula only when its label or brand says so, or when it is certified organic. Kabrita, the goat milk brand in this guide, is not organic; its Dutch FAQ says no genetically modified organisms are used in producing Kabrita formula. Organic goat milk formulas from Holle and HiPP fall under the EU organic GMO ban, and no goat milk formula is for babies with a cow's milk allergy (AAP).
If a U.S. formula has no "bioengineered" label, is it non-GMO?
Not necessarily. The U.S. disclosure standard (7 CFR Part 66) exempts certified organic food and a food in which no ingredient intentionally contains a bioengineered substance and incidental presence stays at or below 5% per ingredient. Foods from animals fed bioengineered feed are not bioengineered for that reason, and refined ingredients with no detectable modified genetic material fall outside the definition. A missing disclosure is not the same as a non-GMO baby formula claim.
Is milk from cows fed GMO feed labeled?
Generally not. EU GMO labeling does not cover products from animals fed genetically modified feed, and the U.S. standard says a food from an animal is not bioengineered just because the animal ate bioengineered feed. Organic rules go further: the EU organic regulation bans GMOs in feed, and under USDA organic rules an organic cow can't eat GMO alfalfa or corn.
Can I switch my baby to a non-GMO baby formula?
Talk with your pediatrician before switching. Follow the age range on the new label, prepare each formula with its own scoop and water amounts, and never mix two formulas or two powders in one bottle.
