One question we hear a bit from our customers is, “why does Oli6 Goat Milk Formula have palm oil in it?”
Parents and health practitioners are right to question what’s in the infant formula they use or recommend. The use of palm oil in infant formula is hotly contested, so please hear us out on this one!
We believe that ethically sourced palm oil is an important ingredient in our goat milk baby formula. It’s proven to be a ready energy source for babies, it brings formula closer to the makeup of actual breast milk, and health authorities across the globe consider it safe for use in infant formula.
Let us outline why there’s palm oil in Oli6 formula, and why we believe it’s beneficial for formula feeding newborns.
Why is palm oil added to infant formula?
Everything that goes into infant formula is aimed at bringing it closer to breast milk – undeniably the gold standard in infant nutrition.
Breast milk itself is composed of water, carbohydrates, protein and fats. Palmitic acid is the most predominant fatty acid, making up 17-25% of the total fats.
Palm oil is often used in infant formula as a substitute for this natural palmitic acid in breast milk, as it’s the only vegetable oil that’s naturally abundant in this fat. That said, the palmitic acid in palm oil is a bit different from the palmitic acid in breast milk. This difference in positioning may affect how it’s absorbed and digested.
Still, without palm oil added, infant formula can’t resemble breast milk as closely.
The benefits of palm oil in infant formula
- Mimics the fatty acids in breast milk, providing a ready source of energy
- Rich in vitamins A and E, which support immune system function and vision
- Loaded with antioxidants, which support overall wellness
- Aids in absorbing fat-soluble vitamins A, E, D and K.
The controversy: Is palm oil bad in infant formula?
It’s globally considered safe to use, but there’s still some concern around palm oil in baby formula. These can be boiled down to two things:
- Sustainability and ethics
- Inhibiting absorption of certain nutrients.
Here’s our take.
Not all palm oil in infant formula hurts the baby orangutans
Palm oil may be a readily available and affordable vegetable oil option, but it IS unfortunately tied to unethical practices. Widespread harvesting of palm oil has contributed to increased carbon gas emissions, as well as destroying the habitats of African animals like orangutans, tigers, elephants and rhinos.
But not all palm oil in infant formula comes from the frontline of baby orangutan home destruction.
At Oli6, we use an ethically sourced, sustainable palm oil in partnership with the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). This global initiative supports farming communities in poorer countries to improve their way of life, while driving sustainable practices in the industry.
Palm oil in formula side effects explained
Health authorities all over the world consider palm oil safe to use in infant formulas. However there have been studies that link palm oil in formula to negative side effects for babies.
Let’s answer a couple of the most common queries.
- Does palm oil in infant formula inhibit the absorption of calcium, fats and long chain fatty acids like DHA? – Some studies would suggest that yes, this is the case. However, high quality infant formulas like Oli6 Goat Milk Formula are fortified with nutrients like DHA to boost intake. On top of this, goat’s milk formula is naturally higher in calcium and other vitamins than cow’s milk. What’s more, the naturally occurring prebiotics as well as the probiotics in goat’s milk formula, aid with calcium absorption.
- Does palm oil in formula cause constipation? – Palmitic acid from palm oil may bind with calcium in the gut to make what’s called ‘calcium soaps’. This can come out in a baby’s poop as an oily, soapy sort of residue. It’s not harmful, but it may lead to firmer stools and increase the chances of constipation in infants. But again, goat’s milk formula has benefits over cow’s milk formula! It contains smaller fats and proteins which form softer curds and naturally are easier on digestion.
If you’re concerned about your baby’s growth and nutritional needs, get advice from your paediatrician on how palm oil in their formula may impact them. There are some formula companies that choose to avoid palm oil and use alternative plant based oils instead.
What can be used instead of palm oil in baby formula?
Common alternatives to palm oil in infant formula include:
- Coconut oil
- Sunflower oil
- Rapeseed oil.
While formulas with these vegetable oils will provide adequate nutrition, they contain significantly less palmitic acid (7.7%) than formulas with palm oil (26.3%). This makes them a bit different in this aspect to the human breast milk they’re trying to replicate.
Why does Oli6 use palm oil in its products?
As we’ve outlined here, Oli6 is comfortable that palm oil in infant formula provides greater benefit to growing babies than if we were to leave it out. To sum up our philosophy:
- Palm oil helps to bring our products even closer to breast milk.
- We will always source an ethical, sustainable palm oil that doesn’t harm the planet.
- We believe that palm oil is beneficial for infants, providing a ready source of energy.
Still concerned about the palm oil in Oli6 Goat Milk Formula? Take a look at how Oli6 compares to other brands, get the perspective of other real parents on Product Review, or get in touch with Customer Service with your question. We’re always happy to chat with you!
