- With Mayo Clinic emeritus consultant
Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
Jay Hoecker, M.D.
Dr. Jay Hoecker, an emeritus member of the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, brings valuable expertise to health information content on primary care pediatrics. He has a particular interest in infectious diseases of children.
He's a Fort Worth, Texas, native, certified as a pediatrician by the American Board of Pediatrics and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He was trained at Washington University's St. Louis Children's Hospital, and in infectious diseases at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He has been with Mayo Clinic since 1989.
"The World Wide Web is revolutionizing the availability and distribution of information, including health information about children and families," Dr. Hoecker says. "The evolution of the Web has included greater safety, privacy and accuracy over time, making the quality and access to children's health information immediate, practical and useful. I am happy to be a part of this service to patients from a trusted name in medicine, to use and foster all the good the Web has to offer children and their families."
Infant and toddler health (6)
- Baby sign language: A good idea?
- Vaccination schedule: Why so many so fast?
- Flu shots for kids: Does my child need a flu shot?
- see all in Infant and toddler health
Newborn health (8)
- Baby poop: What's normal?
- Uncircumcised penis: Is special care needed?
- Induced lactation: Can I breast-feed my adopted baby?
- see all in Newborn health
Infant health (20)
- Baby sling: Is it safe?
- Breast-feeding and alcohol: Is it OK to drink?
- Baby fat: When is it cause for concern?
- see all in Infant health
Toddler health (4)
- Terrible twos: Why are 2-year-olds so difficult?
- Toddler speech development: Are 2-year-olds understandable?
- Poinsettia plants: Are they poisonous?
- see all in Toddler health
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Question
Organic baby food: Is it worth the price?
Organic baby food is more expensive than is regular baby food. Does that mean that organic baby food is better?
Answer
from Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
Whether organic baby food is worth the extra expense is up to you.
Organic foods are intended to be produced without conventional pesticides, chemical fertilizers, antibiotics or growth hormones. Feeding your baby organic baby food may limit his or her exposure to these substances. Generally, however, long-term studies haven't shown organic foods to be more nutritious than nonorganic foods.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides organic seals for products that contain various percentages of organic ingredients — but the USDA makes no claims or guarantees that organic foods are safer or more nutritious than are nonorganic foods.
Some parents prefer organic baby food because it's environmentally friendly. Others feel that organic baby food is healthier or simply tastes better. What's most important, however, is a balanced diet. Offering your child healthy foods from the beginning — whether they're organic or not — will set the stage for a lifetime of healthy eating.
Next questionInfant formula: Is tap or bottled water better?
- Demory-Luce D, et al. Organic foods and children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 4, 2010.
- Kleinman RE. Fast foods, organic foods, fad diets. In: Kleinman RE, ed. Pediatric Nutrition Handbook. 6th ed. Elk Grove Village, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2009:275.
- Organic labeling and marketing information. United States Department of Agriculture. http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3004446&acct=nopgeninfo. Accessed May 4, 2010.
- Perspective on the benefits of organic foods. American Dietetic Association. http://www.eatright.org/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=6442451064. Accessed May 4, 2010.
- Morin K. Organic baby food: What do you tell parents? American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing. 2009;34:129.
- McNally S. Does organic make a difference? AAP Grand Rounds. 2008;20:2.
- Dangour AD, et al. Nutritional quality of organic foods: A systematic review. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2009;90:680.
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