By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kids Nutrition Specialist Following on the heels of the new American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)new infant formula recommendations comes another perspective about organic infant formula. The New York Times headlined a story today of a self-described yoga mom who conscientiously chose organic infant formula for her baby, but didnt realize that same formula contained cane sugar. This mother is certainly not alone, as millions of Americans have been buying the Similac Organic Formula, despite the fact that the organic formula is significantly higher in price than the non-organic. This past year marks the first full year calendar year for Similac Organic, reporting $10 million dollars in sales in 2007 and raking in 36% of the organic formula market. More and more consistent evidence is brought to light on the benefits of eating organic, especially when it comes to baby food. Parents are choosing organic more often these days, hence the newfound popularity of Similac organic. Babies may have their own reason for liking the organic formula; it is significantly sweeter than other formulas and is the only major brand of organic baby formula that is sweetened with cane sugar or sucrose. Cane sugar is sweeter than most other sweeteners used in infant formula. Pediatricians state there are risks in allowing infants to consume cane sugar, although no health problems have been reported with Similac Organic. One risk is that once infants become accustomed to such a sweet taste, they may refuse solid foods or formulas that are not as sweet. In addition, sucrose may harm tooth enamel faster than other sugars. A spokesperson for Abbott Nutrition, the division of Abbott Laboratories that manufactures Similac Organic states that sucrose is approved by the FDA, is considered safe, and that Similac had no more sweeteners than other formulas on the market. In response to growing concern over childhood obesity, Europe will ban the use of sweeteners in infant formula by the end of 2009. The FDA regulates infant formula but does not specify which types of sugar can be used, only that they be regarded as safe. The amount of sugar in formula is also not regulated as the amounts of fat and protein are. While pediatricians question the choice of sugar in Similac organic, all infant formulas contain some type of sugar, which is needed to digest the proteins in cows milk and soy. The most common sugar in infant formula is lactose, but organic formulas must extract the lactose from organic milk which can increase the price of production. Pediatricians worry that the sweeter the food is, the greater the propensity the child has to overeat. While some doctors argue that all sugars have the same effect and are nutritionally identical, others beg to differ saying recent laboratory studies have found animals have a stronger preference for sucrose over other types of sweeteners. Dr. William J. Klish, former chairman of the AAPs nutrition committee stated that any formula that is sweetener will certainly have an advantage as babies love sweetness, making it more difficult to switch to a formula that is less sweet. No need to worry, doctors say, since overall the product is safe. The main goal of formula manufacturers is to try to create a formula that is as close to breast milk as possible, thus making a sweeter formula seems a bit contradictory.