When Esther Hallam welcomed her daughter, Nara, into the world, she faced the challenge of finding trustworthy brands that offered high-quality, organic infant formula in the U.S. Despite being available for nearly 160 years, she believes the quality of infant formula options in the country is still lacking. Many manufacturers use skim milk to cut costs, allowing them to add oils to meet nutritional requirements. Several formulas contain palm oil, soy, and corn syrup, which are not recommended for infants due to potential health risks.
Research has linked corn syrup to an increased risk of obesity, while palm oil has been shown to decrease calcium and fat absorption. Hallam became determined to create a better option. “I became fixated by the fact that there wasn’t a good, organic infant formula that I trusted, that I wanted to feed my daughter in the United States, which is a first-world country,” she told TechCrunch.
For the past seven years, Hallam has worked with scientists and pediatric nutritionists to develop her own organic, whole-milk infant formula from scratch. Today marks the official launch of Nara Organics, which meets both European and U.S. safety standards and is FDA-registered and USDA-certified. The formula is free from palm oil, soy, corn syrup, maltodextrin, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), offering a clean option for parents seeking the best ingredients for their babies.
Nara Organics claims to have the highest percentage of milk fat of any formula sold in the U.S. It also contains the lowest percentage of plant-based oils, as the use of whole milk reduces the need for additional oils to achieve the correct fat content. The ingredient list includes an organic vegetable oil blend made of sunflower, coconut, and rapeseed oils, which provide essential fatty acids for healthy development.
While other organic formula brands like Bobbie and ByHeart manufacture their products in the U.S., Nara Organics chose to produce its formula in Germany. This decision may be due to past issues with Cronobacter contamination, a germ that can survive in dry foods. Recent years have seen several recalls of baby formula linked to Cronobacter outbreaks.
Chief marketing officer Meika Hollender explained that the company’s manufacturing partner in Germany uses advanced technology not found elsewhere. “A critical piece of infant formula, in terms of its shelf life, is how much oxygen gets into the can while sealing it. In U.S. facilities, the process happens in open air. At our facility, the cans go into a chamber with no oxygen,” she said.
Nara has raised $32 million from investors including AlleyCorp, BBG Ventures, Corazon Ventures, Gingerbread Capital, and Torch Capital. The company has also attracted high-profile celebrity investors such as tennis star Serena Williams, actress Gina Rodriguez, and the creators of “Nobody Wants This,” Erin and Sara Foster. Fashion designer and philanthropist Nicky Hilton is also an investor and advisor.
“I breastfed all of my three children, but they also all had formula,” Hilton said. “Every baby and parent is different, and not all mothers are able to breastfeed due to medical, physical, or personal reasons. There’s so much judgment and unnecessary pressure about breastfeeding. It’s really exciting to be part of an innovative brand disrupting the baby formula market.”
With this support, Nara Organics could become a key player in the organic formula market, valued at approximately $20.7 billion in 2023 and projected to reach $37 billion by 2032.
The formula is now available for purchase on the company’s website. Customers can choose a starter bundle for $36, which includes two cans, or subscribe for regular deliveries of four or six cans every four weeks, priced at $136 or $243, respectively. Each can makes about 25 four-ounce bottles.
The formula can also be purchased through the company’s free mobile app, launched by Hallam in 2018. The app helps users track infant care essentials, including feeding times, diaper changes, and tummy time exercises.
As part of its launch, Nara Organics is donating over 1,400 cans of infant formula to the Good+ Foundation, a nonprofit working to end multi-generational poverty by providing essential items and services to under-resourced parents and caregivers.