Difference between Whey and Whey DHA formula
With regard to the difference between Baby's Only Gentle Dairy and Baby’s Only Gentle Dairy with DHA & ARA formulas, there is ongoing controversy as to whether DHA and ARA are needed in infant formula and also over the source of DHA and ARA being added to infant formulas. One reason is that a full term, healthy infant has the capability of making the non-essential fatty acids DHA and ARA from two essential fatty acids, linolenic fatty acid and linoleic fatty acid, which are in all formulas, including our Baby’s Only Organic® formulas. In addition, we originally chose not to add them to our Baby’s Only Organic® formulas, including our original dairy formula, because the Academy of Pediatrics has not come out with a definitive statement on the necessity of adding these two non-essential fatty acids (DHA and ARA) to formula;
Nature’s One’s “original” Gentle Dairy Whey formula is a complete formula even without the addition of DHA & ARA because, as mentioned previously, it has two precursor essential fatty acids (linolenic & linoleic) that convert to DHA & ARA fatty acids in the body. The Gentle Dairy Whey Formula with DHA & ARA is the same formulation as the Gentle Dairy Whey Formula, but with the addition of DHA and ARA.
This formulation is for parents and/or healthcare providers that prefer to have the formula supplemented with DHA and ARA. The DHA & ARA in Baby's Only Gentle Dairy Protein with DHA & ARA is naturally derived from organic egg yolk (also called egg phospholipid or egg lecithin). This differs from the algae and fungus sources that are used in most other organic and conventional infant formulas, which may possibly be treated with hexane solvent, acid and bleach. Parents who want to avoid giving their baby a formula with chemically treated oils, but would like added non-essential fatty acids should consider Baby's Only Gentle Dairy Whey Protein formula with organic DHA & ARA.