For our products at Little Étoile, ‘Organic’ means more than just organic produce. We employ ‘whole system organic compliance’, which means that everything from the soil the crops are grown in or harvested on, right through to the manufacturing, packaging and handling stages, complies with a comprehensive accredited organic system.
Little Étoile Organic proudly Australian Certified Organic
ACO (Australian Certified Organic) is Australia’s largest certifier of organic and biodynamic produce. The organic certification is strictly regulated to ensure food is produced as nature intended from start to finish, without synthetic fertilisers or processes. It takes over three years to convert a conventional farm to organic and there’s no shortcuts – that’s why only 1% of the world’s farmland is certified organic.
Being responsible for more than half of the world’s organic produce, Australia has some of the most stringent testing requirements in the world for acquiring organic certification, and ACO holds international accreditation for standards of integrity, impartiality and objectivity.
Organic is best for your bub
Wherever possible, preference should be given to provide babies and children with organic food to ensure they are met with the best start in life!
Babies and toddlers go through dramatic growth and cognitive development in the first two years of life, a process dependent on adequate nutrition and a healthy environment.
Organic food contains higher nutrient levels, including higher levels of antioxidants, with fewer harmful substances (1). On the contrary, conventional farming methods produce foods with higher heavy metals, antibiotics, hormones and genetically modified (GMO) ingredients.
As the immune system is still developing, babies are more susceptible to chemicals and pesticides found in foods farmed conventionally. This in turn may have a negative impact on their health and development (2). There are a number of studies linking pesticide exposure in children with an increase in learning disabilities and behavioural issues such as Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)(3).
“We are proud to be able to support Australian families by producing accessible and convenient organic baby food of the highest standard possible.”
References
- Barański, M., et al., Higher antioxidant and lower cadmium concentrations and lower incidence of pesticide residues in organically grown crops: a systematic literature review and meta-analyse. British Journal of Nutrition, 2014. 112(5): p. 794-811Roberts, J.R., et al., Pesticide Exposure in Children. Pediatrics, 2012. 130(6): p. e1765-1788.
- Koletzko, B., et al., Pesticides in dietary foods for infants and young children. Report of the Working Group on Pesticides in Baby Foods of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN). Archives of Disease in Childhood, 1999. 80(1): p. 91-92.
