Once Upon a Farm lands clean label certification amid heavy metal wake-up call in baby food

02 Mar 2022 --- Baby food and snacking company Once Upon a Farm has received Clean Label Project’s 1,000 Day Promise Certification for its new Advanced Nutrition Blends. It is the first brand to receive the certification in the baby category.

“This new certification sets a higher standard in baby food regulation by utilizing elements of European regulations for contaminants and residues in baby food, formula and processed cereal products,” the US-based company says. 

The Clean Label Project is a US NGO, aiming to boost transparency in consumer product labeling. Its 1,000 Day Promise Certification is inspired by the World Health Organization’s statements that the first 1,000 days of life are critically important for long-term health and wellness. 

The certification also incorporates current and emerging regulations set by the State of California for packaging migration chemicals, including phthalates and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). 

The certification must also meet nutritional requirements such as no added sugar, no artificial colors, no artificial flavors and the inclusion of at least one quarter serving of vegetables.

Industry wake-up call
Obtaining the 1,000 Day Promise Certification is a step toward championing industry-wide change, says Jennifer Garner, co-founder and chief brand officer at Once Upon a Farm.

“The baby food industry has been stagnant for so long, and parents for years became accustomed to compromise.” 

Last year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed an action plan dubbed “Closer to Zero” aimed at reducing exposure to toxic elements, including lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury, from foods for babies and young children.The Clean Label Project purchases retail products and tests them for purity.

The plan came as a result of numerous companies named in a report by The Committee on Oversight and Reform, which highlighted infant foods are tainted with dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals.

“The Congressional investigation into heavy metals in baby food was a welcomed wake-up call. When it comes to vulnerable populations, caregivers, parents and now regulators are demanding better from brands,” says Jaclyn Bowen, executive director of The Clean Label Project. 

Honing ingredients
Once Upon a Farm’s Advanced Nutrition Blends are formulated with key micro and macronutrients to aid babies’ development in the first year, according to the company. 

Each recipe starts with a vegetable and contains an “optimal” ratio of fat, protein and carbohydrates with 20%, or more of a baby’s recommended daily values for B12, zinc and 10% of a baby’s recommended daily value of iron.

A recent study revealed the most common health claim on baby food packaging in the UK was the role of iron in supporting normal cognitive development. 

Nonetheless, previous research noted that preventive iron treatment has no impact on young children’s development but can improve anemia. 

By Andria Kades