What are the organic formula milk found in Malaysia?

As you know, I am in the midst of weaning baby.  Nowadays, she only latches at night and day time she drinks fresh milk.  

She has been drinking Farm Fresh milk and she likes the taste.  I like how it comes in 200ml bottle as well that makes it so easy for her to hold and drink with the straw on her own.

Since we are going to travel to China in October, I have been cracking my brains of what milk to bring for her since I can't bring this Farm Fresh milk with me as they will go bad very fast without refrigeration and I can't trust any of China's fresh milk.  So few questions came to mind:

1. Should I wean her to formula milk?

2. Should I bring UHT milk instead?

3. Goat's milk or cow's milk?

4. Organic or normal?

I have to start fast because I am left with 1 month to prep her to get her use to the milk.  After some discussion with my friends and some research I did online, found that it is probably easier if I bring formula milk or UHT milk that doesn't required refrigeration for our travel.

Now, which formula milk and which UHT milk is best?  I can't just simply choose any in the market.

She was taking Dumex Dugro that my parents bought for her.  However, I feel very uncomfortable with the colour of the milk powder.  If you compare to other milk powder in the market, this Dumex Dugro milk powder is very, very white.  As if bleached.  If you don't believe me, you compare it yourself.  

That makes me start this extensive research on what milk to give her.  Given a choice, if it is not for travelling, I would continue with fresh milk.  However, now I have to review my options.  I have decided to go for Organic instead.   And I found in Malaysia, we only have a few organic brands of formula cow's milk, unfortunately.  The best organic brand is Hipp or Holle, both from Europe.  However, none of the Malaysians are dealers for this brand.  The closest is from Singapore and I believe it will be super expensive.

Let's start with a couple of Organic Cow's Milk Powder for Toddler that you can find in Malaysia.

Bellamy's Organic Toddler Drink - Step 3

Bellamy’s Organic Toddler Milk Drink is a nutritious supplement to the broadening diet of busy toddlers! Made from certified organic cow's milk, it contains added iron, and 16 other essential vitamins and minerals to support the rapid growth of your child.  Our Toddler Milk also contains inulin – a natural prebiotic fibre, which stimulates good bacteria for a healthy digestive system.

Our Toddler Milk drink is a preferred alternative to pure cow’s milk when weaning toddlers from breast milk or infant formula. Bellamy's Organic Toddler milk is made to the very strict regulations of Australian and New Zealand Food Standards (FSANZ). Our formulas and milks are certified organic by the National Association of Agriculture Australia (NASAA Certified Organic), Australia's leading national certifier. Our Toddler Milk is also Halal certified by the Islamic Co-ordinating Council of Victoria (ICCV).

What you should know about our formula is:

• 100% certified organic.
• Suitable from 12 months
• From organic cows milk
• Added iron, zinc and calcium
• Added natural prebiotic fibre
• Made in Australia
• Certified by NASAA Certified Organic
• Certified Halal by ICCV
• BPA free tin

All seems very well until I got into the ingredients:

Our tin will provide you with the necessary measuring scoop and preparation instructions, along with a feeding table to guide you on how much your toddler will need each day.  Bellamy’s Organic.  A pure start to life.

Ingredients:

Organic full cream milk powder, organic skim milk powder, organic maltodextrin, organic demineralised whey solids, organic lactose, organic soybean oil, organic sucrose, lecithin (soy), inulin. MINERALS: Calcium phosphate, ferrous sulphate, magnesium sulphate, sodium citrate, zinc sulphate, potassium iodide. VITAMINS: Vitamin C, niacinamide (vitamin B3), vitamin E, vitamin D, vitamin A, thiamine hydrochloride (vitamin B1), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), folic acid (vitamin B9).

 .

Allergens:

Contains milk and soybean products.

It contains soy!

In true fact, I have nothing against soy.  In fact, I let her drink soya bean on and off.  But not for long term.  I have heard about soy and estrogen and all that and I definitely don't want to take this risk.  I have heard of friends giving soy milk to their sons and I felt a bit weird about it, you know, estrogen and boys don't really mix.  But that's just my opinion and not from extensive research.  Since I have a girl, little bit of estrogen in their drink is ok.  But not prolong.

So Bellamy is off.  Now the second one.

Babynat Organic Deserve Formulated Cow's Milk for Children

Babynat Formulated Milk for Children is carefully developed from certified organic ingredients to meet nutritional requirements of toddlers from 1 – 3 years. This nutritious milk provides important nutrients at optimum level according to European legislation to support healthy growth, physical and mental development of your child. 

Quality
All the ingredients from agricultural origin are 100 % organically grown. Free from pesticide and herbicide residue.                                              

It is formulated using milk from cows that graze freely and that are fed on an organic diet without using antibiotics or growth hormones.

Contains essential fatty acids from first cold pressed vegetable oils to support brain and nerve development.

Nutritional composition is in compliance with the latest paediatric recommendations to support optimum physical and mental development of toddlers.

Benefits
Bifidobacteria (bifidobacterium lactis), friendly bacteria to improve immune and digestive system.

Omega 3 and 6 at appropriate ratio for brain and nerve development.

Calcium and Zinc is essential for growth and development of strong bones and teeth.

Iron is essential for red blood cell formation. Vitamins in right proportion for optimum growth.

Suggested Serving
Add 8 scoops (34.4g) of milk powder into 240ml of boiled lukewarm water and mix well. 2-3 feedings perday. 

Storage Instructions
Always keep the tin tightly closed after opening. Store in a cool dry place.

Country of Origin
France

Ingredients
Corn maltodextrins*, skimmed milk (cow’s milk)*, demineralized whey powder (cow’s milk)*, first cold pressed vegetable oils* (rapeseed*, olive*, sunflower*), non-hydrogenated palm oil*, milk mineral concentrate (calcium), vitamin C, magnesium chloride, sodium citrate, iron lactate, potassium hydroxyde, zinc sulfate, potassium chloride, natural vitamin E (D-alpha tocopherol acetate), niacin, potassium iodine, pantothenic acid, sodium selenite, copper sulfate, magnesium oxide, vitamin A, riboflavine, vitamin B6, thiamin, folic acid, manganese sulphate, vitamin K1, biotin, vitamin D, vitamin B12, Bifidobacteria (bifidobacterium lactis). 

* ingredients of agricultural origin, organically grown (100%).

All looks fine and good until the word Corn maltodextrins.  It's a natural sweetener.  Read more about it here.

Next research is on Babybio Deserve Formulated Cow's Milk for Children (1-3 years old)

Babybio Organic Formulated Cow’s Milk for Children is carefully developed from certified organic ingredients to meet nutritional requirements of toddlers from 1 – 3 years. This formulated milk provides important nutrients at optimum level to support healthy growth, physical and mental development of your child.

Quality

• All the ingredients from agricultural origin are 100 % organically grown. Free from pesticide and herbicide residue.
• It is formulated using milk from cows that graze freely and that are fed on an organic diet without using antibiotics or growth hormones.
• Contains essential fatty acids from first cold pressed vegetable oils to support brain and nerve development.
• Nutritional composition is in compliance with the latest paediatric recommendations to support optimum physical and mental development of toddlers.

Country of Origin

France

Ingredients

Cow skimmed milk*, corn maltodextrins*, vegetable oils* (oleic sunflower*, rapeseed*), lactose*, cow milk minerals concentrate (calcium), minerals: magnesium chloride, ferrous lactate, potassium hydroxyde, zinc sulphate, sodium selenite, cupric sulphate, potassium iodide, manganese sulphate); vitamins: L- sodium ascorbate, retinyl acetate, cholecalciferol, nicotinamide, phytomenadione, calcium pantothenate, D-biotin, cyanocobalamin, thiamine, mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, folic acid, D-alpha tocopherol acetate, DL alpha-tocopherol, ascorbyl palmitate, Bifidobacteria (bifidobacterium lactis) 0.05%* ingredients of agricultural origin, organically grown (100%).

Again corn maltodextrins.  Sigh.  

I have read online and found that the best organic formula milk is Hipp.  And here's why:

Skimmed milk*, vegetable oils* (palm oil*, rapeseed oil*, sunflower oil*), lactose*, calcium carbonate, vitamin C, bourbon vanilla extract, iron lactate, magnesium carbonate, vitamin E, vitamin A, niacin, zinc oxide, pantothenic acid, copper sulphate, vitamin K, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, potassium iodate, vitamin B2, folic acid, manganese sulphate, sodium selenate, vitamin D, biotin, vitamin B12. 
*from organic production

No soy and no corn maltodextrins.

And the other one is Holle.  Here's why:

Ingredients:

Skimmed milk*, whey product* (whey powder*, partly demineralised), vegetable oils* (palm oil*, rapeseed oil*, sunflower oil*), skimmed milk powder*, starch*, maltodextrin*, calcium carbonate, vitamin C, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, iron lactate, vitamin E, zinc sulphate, niacin, calcium D-pantothenate, copper sulphate, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, manganese sulphate, potassium iodate, folic acid, vitamin K, sodium selenate, vitamin D.

*from organic farming

Countries of origin of the main ingredients:

Germany / Austria

Preparation:

Quick and easy preparation. Just add water to the milk powder and stir.

Production:

For the Holle Organic Growing-up Milk 4 we use only high-quality and EU-certified organic milk. The EU Organic logo guarantees strict adherence to EU organic regulations and the careful processing of the raw materials used. This is monitored by the respective organic control body . Vitamins and minerals are added according to legal requirements.

Please note:

Holle Organic Growing-up Milk 4 is designed to be drunk from a cup. If you feed it in a bottle please do not allow your child to suck continuously as this can cause tooth decay.

Again, no soy and but contains maltodextrins.  But you can't find these milk in Malaysia.  I don't know why no one wants to be the dealers for them.  Probably too expensive for Malaysians?

And I found another organic brand that you can buy in Malaysia, Topfer.

Ingredients:

ORGANIC SKIMMED MILK FROM ALLGÄU, ORGANIC WHEY POWDER (PARTLY DEMINERALIZED), ORGANIC VEGETABLE OILS (ORGANIC PALM OIL FROM SUSTAINABLE CULTIVATION, ORGANIC RAPESEED OIL, ORGANIC SUNFLOWER OIL), ORGANIC MALTODEXTRIN, ORGANIC SKIMMED MILK POWDER, CALCIUM CITRATE, CALCIUM PHOSPHATE, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, SODIUM CITRATE, CALCIUM CARBONATE, MAGNESIUM HYDROGEN PHOSPHATE, VITAMIN C, IRON LACTATE, VITAMIN E, BIFIDOBACTERIA CULTURES (BIFIDOBACTERIUM BREVE, BIFIDOBACTERIUM BIFIDUM, BIFIDOBACTERIUM INFANTIS, BIFIDOBACTERIUM LONGUM), ZINC SULFATE, IRON PYROPHOSPHATE, NIACIN, CALCIUM D-PANTOTHENATE, COPPER SULFATE, VITAMIN A, VITAMIN B1, VITAMIN B6, MANGANESE SULFATE, POTASSIUM IODATE, FOLIC ACID, VITAMIN K, SODIUM SELENATE, BIOTIN, VITAMIN D.

However, it contains Maltodextrin again.  

More extensive research done by a mommy here.  

Conclusion:  I have decided not to give my girl any formula milk, be it organic or non-organic.  Simply because I am not comfortable with the ingredients, especially those found in Malaysia.  But if you are keen to try, there's only 4 brands that carry the organic word on the tin.  And they are Bellamy, Babynat, Babybio and Topfer.  Now that I have decided to give UHT milk instead, I have to keep on looking for one organic one.