Holle vs Earth’s Best: Which Formula Is Better?

Key Differences Between Holle and Earth’s Best

Feature	Holle Bio Stage 1	Earth’s Best
Organic Certification	Demeter (strict biodynamic)	USDA Organic
Primary Protein Source	Organic skimmed milk and whey	Organic nonfat milk and whey protein
Fat Blend	Palm oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil	Palm olein, soy oil, coconut oil, high-oleic safflower oil
Carbohydrate Source	Lactose	Lactose
Prebiotics/Probiotics	None	Prebiotic Fructooligosaccharides
Target Age	0 to 6 months	0 to 12 months
Whey-to-Casein Ratio	60:40 (closer to breast milk)	70:30 (whey dominant)

This article will compare two popular organic formulas: Holle and Earth’s Best.

We have chosen Holle Stage 1 vs Earth’s Best Infant Formula with Iron (their closest to breast milk).

We will analyze their ingredients and nutritional compositions to help you choose the best one for your little one.

Let’s get after it!

Our Short Answer

After analyzing both infant formulas, it is clear that we are dealing with two quality products, but if we had to choose one, it would be Holle for the following reasons:

• Its organic certification (Demeter) is one of the most difficult to achieve in the world, and one of the strictest, which means that its ingredients are among the very best.
• Its fat blend is better as it has Palm oil instead of palm olein (less nutritious), and does not contain soy or high-oleic oils.

That said, if you decide to choose Earth’s Best for availability or other reasons, you’ll be making a wise decision. Its only real weaknesses are the use of palm olein and soy oil.

Overview of the Two Formulas

Holle boasts biodynamic farming for its formula, with unique elements like algae oil for essential fatty acids, focusing on organic purity and environmental sustainability.

Earth’s Best offers organic nutrition mimicking breast milk, incorporating DHA, ARA, lutein, and prebiotic fiber, excluding corn syrup solids, aligning with USDA Organic and FDA standards.

Holle

Holle is a brand that takes pride in its organic credentials.

Their baby formula is made with milk from cows raised on biodynamic (Demeter) farms. These farms are known for not using any artificial chemicals or GMOs. They practice a form of agriculture that respects animal welfare and promotes environmental sustainability and have achieved one of the most challenging organic certifications in the world.

Their formula ingredients include hard-to-find elements like algae oil and Mortierella Alpina oil, great sources of essential fatty acids such as DHA and ARA. These are vital for your baby’s brain development and overall health.

Holle also ensures its product is rich in vitamins like A, D, and E and various important minerals, aiming to provide a balanced diet for infants.

Earth’s Best

On the other hand, Earth’s Best focuses on delivering organic nutrition that closely mimics breast milk.

Their products start with organic nonfat milk from cows fed organic feed without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.

Like Holle, Earth’s Best is committed to clean ingredients without artificial sweeteners.

The formula includes a blend of DHA & ARA, vital nutrients found in breast milk that support brain and eye health.

It incorporates lutein for eye development and prebiotic fiber to boost your baby’s immunity system.

This brand guarantees no added corn syrup solids, like some other US-based formulas, making it a healthier choice for many parents.

Earth’s Best adheres to USDA Organic standards and ensures their product meets all FDA requirements for infant nutrition.

Nutritional Composition

Holle’s formula emphasizes organic ingredients and a 60:40 whey-to-casein ratio, closely mimicking breast milk for digestibility and growth.

Earth’s Best offers a slightly higher whey ratio and includes soy and palm olein in its fats, differing from Holle’s organic oil blend.

Protein Content

Holle: The primary protein source in the Holle formula comes from organic skimmed milk and whey products with a 60:40 whey:casein ratio. These proteins are easy for babies to digest. This formula mimics the protein balance found in natural breast milk, providing essential amino acids that support overall growth.

Earth’s Best: This formula uses organic skimmed milk and organic whey protein concentrate as its primary protein sources with a 70:30 whey:casein ratio. Like Holle, the protein content in Earth’s Best is structured to resemble that of breast milk, aiding in simple digestion while contributing to muscle development and function.

Both formulas are very similar in protein content. The only real differences are their organic certification (Holle wins) and their whey-to-casein ratio. Holle is closer to the one in breast milk, but Earth’s Best leans more towards whey, which can help some babies with long digestions.

Carbohydrate Content

Holle: For carbohydrates, Holle primarily uses lactose, derived from milk.

Earth’s Best: The main carbohydrate source in Earth’s Best is lactose as well.

Using lactose ensures the carbohydrate composition matches breast milk’s as closely as possible. This aids in maintaining infant energy levels, helps with calcium absorption and supports healthy growth. No difference between both formulas.

Fats and Oils

Holle: The fats in Holle formula come from a blend of organic vegetable oils (palm oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil). These oils are chosen to replicate the fatty acid profile of breast milk as closely as possible. It also includes algae oil and Mortierella Alpina oil, which provide important fatty acids like DHA and ARA that are critical for brain development.

Earth’s Best: Earth’s Best utilizes a mix of organic oils (palm olein, soy, coconut, high-oleic safflower oil) for its fat content. It also includes Mortierella Alpina Oil and Crypthecodinium Cohnii Oil for omega-3 DHA and omega-6 ARA – essential for eye health and cognitive development.

Holle takes the crown when it comes to fat content. Opting for palm oil rather than olein gives it a nutritional edge thanks to its saturated fats. Plus, it steers clear of soy, the vegetable oil we suggest skipping. Earth’s Best scores points for incorporating coconut, which is a definite plus, yet it doesn’t quite clinch victory due to its use of soy and palm olein. Both brands include plant-based DHA and ARA in their formulas, but Holle pulls ahead with more generous amounts, aligning with EU standards.

Nutritional Facts Comparison Table

Nutrient	Holle (per 68 kcal)	Earth’s Best (per 68 kcal)
Protein (g)	1.4	1.36
Fat (g)	3.4	3.2
Carbohydrates (g)	8	8.16
Sodium (mg)	15.4	17.64
Potassium (mg)	82.2	71.4
Calcium (mg)	59.9	50.76
Iron (mg)	0.54	1.17
Vitamin D (µg)	1.5	3.9
Vitamin E (mg)	0.9	1.3
Vitamin K (µg)	5.4	5.2
Vitamin C (mg)	6.1	7.8
Biotin (µg)	1.6	2.99
Chloride (mg)	50.9	44.24
Copper (µg)	55	46.31
Iodine (µg)	15.1	9.76
Magnesium (mg)	5.4	5.2
Manganese (µg)	53	9.76
Niacin (mg)	0.35	0.715
Pantothenic Acid (mg)	0.35	0.325
Selenium (µg)	3.9	1.82
Vitamin B12 (µg)	0.14	0.195
Vitamin B6 (µg)	30	41.01
Zinc (mg)	0.45	0.488
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) (mg)	0.18	0.104
Choline (mg)	22	10.4

Earth’s Best has more nutrients per 68kcal in some minerals and vitamins because it is designed for babies between 0 and 12 months, while Holle Bio Stage 1, is from 0 to 6 months.

Both formulas provide the necessary nutrients for babies to thrive.

Probiotics and Prebiotics

Probiotics and prebiotics can play a significant role for some babies, but not all formulas contain them. Probiotics are good bacteria that live in the gut and help digestion, while prebiotics are food for these good bacteria.

Holle: According to the latest information, Holle formula does not explicitly highlight the inclusion of probiotics or prebiotics within its ingredient list. This doesn’t mean the formula lacks nutrition, as it still provides essential nutrients and vitamins whose benefits include supporting digestive health in other ways. Holle focuses more on ensuring high-quality, organic ingredients that are easily processed.

Earth’s Best: Earth’s Best includes Fructooligosaccharides (prebiotics) in its formula. These prebiotics provide food for the bacteria in our gut, strengthening our immune system and helping with the digestive process.

If you need a formula with prebiotics, then it’s clear that Earth’s Best is a better option, but if that’s not the case, Holle’s ingredients list is better overall.

Best Places to Buy Holle and Earth’s Best

Holle

If you want to but Holle in the US, we recommend Organic’s Best and The Milky Box as the two most trustworthy and safe retailers to purchase European Formulas.

Earth’s Best

If you want to purchase Earth’s Best online, we recommend Target or Walmart, which usually have the best prices.

What are the best alternatives to Holle and Earth’s Best?

We always recommend parents research other brands before making their final decision just in case they need to switch at some point.

Here are the formulas we recommend for most babies and the best alternatives to Holle and Earth’s Best:

Hipp: Hipp is another European organic infant formula brand known for its high-quality ingredients and strict adherence to EU regulations. Like Holle, it offers various stages of infant formula, but it also includes added prebiotics and probiotics for improved gut health. *Read: Hipp vs Holle and Hipp vs Earth’s Best

Bobbie: Bobbie is a US-based organic infant formula brand that closely follows the European nutritional standards, offering a blend of organic nonfat milk, lactose, and a mix of vegetable oils. Their formula is one of the purest you can find. No added pre or probiotics, though. *Read: Bobbie vs Hipp and Bobbie vs Earth’s Best

Kendamil: Kendamil is a UK-based brand that offers organic infant formulas made with whole milk and no palm oil. Some parents and nutritionists, including us, think Kendamil has the best overall formula in the world. *Read: Kendamil vs Hipp and Kendamil vs Earth’s Best

Last Words

We hope this comparison between Holle and Earth’s Best formulas has helped you make an informed decision for your little one.

If you have extra questions, leave a comment or contact us at [email protected].

Happy feeding!