Infant formulas
Bubs
20 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- Contains palm oil
Why it scores 48
Bubs scores 48 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Lactose: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 3 points 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers: Industrial additive classes found: emulsifier, industrial protein and industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate. Emerging
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better infant formula
-
Kendamil Kendall organic Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 82 out of 100 , 34 points higher -
Goat Organic Infant milk 1 Jovie Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 92 out of 100 , 44 points higher -
Platinum The A2 Milk Company Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 31 points higher -
Yogurt* with Blueberries, Apple & Banana Holle Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 31 points higher -
Apple & Plum Holle Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 31 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Bubs
Ingredients
- Lactose minus 20 points
- Whey protein concentrate / isolate minus 2.5 points
- Vegetable oil (unspecified) minus 2.5 points
- Palm oil minus 1.5 points
- Sunflower oil minus 1.5 points
- Canola oil minus 1.5 points
- Calcium phosphate minus 0.5 points
- Potassium phosphate minus 0.5 points
- Soy lecithin minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 3 points
100 − 52 = 48
Can’t score above 79. Contains lactose, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 69 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 3.7 g |
| Carbohydrates | 7.4 g |
| Protein | 1.5 g |
| Salt | 0.1 g |
Serving: 145ml
Ingredients
- Lactose (high concern)
- Goat Whole Milk Solids
- Goat Whey Protein Concentrate
- Vegetable Oil Blend (Palm Olein, High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Canola Oil, Sunflower Oil, Coconut Oil)
- Galacto-Oligosaccharide (GOS) (not recognized)
- Antioxidants (α-Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate) (not recognized)
- Biotin
- Schizochytrium sp. Oil (not recognized)
- M. alpina Oil (not recognized)
- Calcium Carbonate
- Calcium Pantothenate
- Calcium Phosphate
- Choline Bitartrate
- Cholecalciferol
- Copper Sulfate
- Cyanocobalamin
- d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate
- Folic Acid
- Ferrous Sulfate
- Inositol
- L-Carnitine
- Magnesium Sulfate
- Manganese Sulfate
- Niacinamide
- Phytonadione
- Potassium Chloride
- Potassium Iodide
- Potassium Phosphate
- Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
- Riboflavin
- Sodium Ascorbate
- Sodium Citrate
- Sodium Selenite
- Soy Lecithin
- Taurine
- Thiamine Hydrochloride
- Vitamin A Acetate
- Zinc Sulfate
Label text, as published
Lactose, Goat Whole Milk Solids, Goat Whey Protein Concentrate, Vegetable Oil Blend (Palm Olein, High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Canola Oil, Sunflower Oil, Coconut Oil), Galacto-Oligosaccharide (GOS), less than 2% of: Antioxidants (α-Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate), Biotin, Schizochytrium sp. Oil, M. alpina Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Phosphate, Choline Bitartrate, Cholecalciferol, Copper Sulfate, Cyanocobalamin, d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate, Folic Acid, Ferrous Sulfate, Inositol, L-Carnitine, Magnesium Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacinamide, Phytonadione, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Iodide, Potassium Phosphate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Sodium Ascorbate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Selenite, Soy Lecithin, Taurine, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Vitamin A Acetate, Zinc Sulfate. Contains goat milk and soy
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Soy
- Not vegan
- Not palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More infant formulas on GoodSwap
-
Similac Advance Abbott Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsNo synthetic dyes Score 51 out of 100 Okay -
Goat Infant Formula Kendamil Ultra-processedContains added sugars Score 56 out of 100 Okay -
Similac 360 Total Care Sensitive Abbott Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsNo synthetic dyes Score 30 out of 100 Poor
Sources
-
Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children
“In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”
who.int
-
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
“Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”
cdn.realfood.gov
-
Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“replacement of saturated fat in the diet with linoleic acid effectively lowers serum cholesterol but does not support the hypothesis that this translates to a lower risk of death from coronary heart disease or all causes.”
doi.org
-
“These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”
doi.org
-
Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline
“WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”
who.int
-
Process contaminants in vegetable oils and foods
“The highest levels of GE, as well as 3-MCPD and 2-MCPD (including esters) were found in palm oils and palm fats, followed by other oils and fats.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“Glycidyl fatty acid esters, expressed as glycidol”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
EFSA issues new advice on phosphates
“We estimated that dietary exposure to phosphates may exceed the new ADI for infants, toddlers and children with average consumption of phosphates in their diet.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”
doi.org