Earth's Best vs Kendamil: Which Baby Formula Is Better for Your Baby? (2026 Guide)

If you are an American parent weighing an organic formula you can grab off the shelf against a premium European brand, the choice often comes down to Earth's Best vs Kendamil. Both are popular with families who want a cleaner label, and both are lactose-based with no added corn syrup solids. But they take very different approaches to milk fat, oils, and how they are made and sold. This guide breaks down the real differences in plain language so you can decide which fits your baby and your routine. As always, this is general information, not medical advice, and your pediatrician is the best guide for your baby's specific needs.

Earth's Best vs Kendamil at a Glance

Earth's Best is a long-running American organic brand you will find on grocery and drugstore shelves nationwide. Kendamil is a British formula made in the UK's Lake District that American parents typically buy from specialty retailers. Here is how the two compare at a high level. Formulations can change and vary by market, so always confirm details on the current tin you receive.

Both brands avoid corn syrup solids and both use lactose as the primary carbohydrate, which is the same sugar found in breast milk. The biggest differences are the milk fat approach (whole milk vs skim milk plus added oils), whether palm oil is used, and how each brand is certified and sold. If you want a deeper primer on reading these labels, see our guide on how to read baby formula ingredient labels.

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About Earth's Best Organic Formula

Earth's Best has been a familiar name in the American organic baby aisle for decades. Its flagship Organic Dairy Infant Formula is a cow's-milk-based, USDA-certified organic formula designed for babies from birth through 12 months, so one product covers the whole first year rather than switching by stage. It is also Kosher Dairy and carries a Clean Label Project Purity Award.

The ingredient list starts with organic lactose and organic nonfat milk, followed by a blend of organic oils (organic palm or palm olein, soy, coconut, and high-oleic safflower or sunflower), organic whey protein concentrate, and small amounts of DHA (from algal oil) and ARA, plus fructooligosaccharides (FOS) as a prebiotic, lutein, and l-carnitine. Because it is based on nonfat milk, the fat comes largely from that added vegetable-oil blend, which is a common approach in US formulas and part of why palm or palm olein appears on the label.

Earth's Best also makes cow's-milk variations for different feeding situations, including a Gentle option and a Sensitivity option, as well as a soy-based formula. These are everyday variations, not medical or hypoallergenic products; if your baby has a diagnosed allergy or intolerance, talk to your pediatrician about the right choice. For a broader look at how American organic brands are formulated, our organic vs regular baby formula guide is a helpful companion read.

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About Kendamil Formula

Kendamil is made by Kendal Nutricare in England's Lake District and has become one of the most requested European brands among US parents. Its signature feature is that it is built on full-cream whole milk rather than skim milk with added fats, and it uses no palm oil. The DHA in Kendamil comes from a plant-based (algal) source rather than fish oil, which is why the brand markets its milks as suitable for vegetarian families.

Kendamil comes in a few distinct lines, and knowing the difference matters:

• Kendamil Premium (sold in the US market under the “Classic” name) – the original whole-milk cow's milk formula. This line is not organic, but it keeps the no-palm-oil, whole-milk, plant-based-DHA profile.
• Kendamil Organic – the EU-certified organic whole-milk cow's milk version, for families who specifically want an organic certification.
• Kendamil Goat – made from whole goat's milk, which is naturally higher in A2-type protein. This is a regular formula for families who simply prefer goat milk; it is not a treatment for cow's-milk protein allergy, and any suspected allergy should be discussed with your pediatrician.

Kendamil also offers a Comfort formula (partially hydrolyzed) and ready-to-feed liquid options. Because the European line is age-staged, you choose a stage based on your baby's age rather than using one tin for the whole first year. If you are deciding between the three main cow-and-goat lines, our dedicated guide on Kendamil Classic vs Organic vs Goat walks through each in detail. Formulations and prebiotic blends can differ between the US retail version and the imported European tins, so check the ingredient panel on the tin you actually receive.

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Ingredient-by-Ingredient Comparison

Milk base: whole milk vs skim milk plus oils

This is the clearest philosophical difference between the two. Earth's Best starts from organic nonfat (skim) milk and rebuilds the fat content using a vegetable-oil blend. Kendamil starts from whole milk, so a portion of the fat comes from the milk itself, with additional vegetable oils to complete the fat profile. One practical result is that whole-milk formulas naturally contain milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) components, a milk-fat feature that has drawn research interest. Neither approach is “wrong”; they simply reflect different formulation traditions on each side of the Atlantic.

Fats and oils: the palm oil question

Earth's Best uses organic palm or palm olein as part of its oil blend, which is standard in many US formulas and provides palmitic acid similar to that found in breast milk. Some parents look specifically for palm-oil-free formulas because palm oil can bind with calcium and affect stool firmness for some babies. Kendamil is formulated without palm oil, using oils such as sunflower, coconut, and rapeseed instead. If a palm-oil-free label is a priority for your family, that is a meaningful point in Kendamil's favor; if it is not a concern for you, Earth's Best's organic palm blend is a well-established choice.

Carbohydrates: lactose, no corn syrup

Here the two brands actually agree. Both use lactose (milk sugar) as the primary carbohydrate and neither adds corn syrup solids to its standard organic dairy formula. Lactose is the same carbohydrate that predominates in breast milk, which is one reason many parents look for it at the top of an ingredient list. If you want to understand why this matters, see our explainer on what to look for on a formula label.

DHA and prebiotics

Both formulas include DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, and both source it from algal oil rather than fish oil – so DHA is not really a point of difference here, despite how it is sometimes marketed. Earth's Best pairs its DHA with ARA and includes FOS as a prebiotic. Kendamil uses GOS as its prebiotic, and some Kendamil versions (particularly certain US retail tins) also include human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). Prebiotic blends are one of the areas that vary most between markets and product versions, so the current tin's panel is the source of truth. For more on this ingredient category, our guide to probiotics and prebiotics in baby formula is a useful background read.

MFGM and the whole-milk advantage

Because Kendamil is whole-milk based, it naturally carries milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) components that come along with real milk fat. Earth's Best, built on nonfat milk, does not emphasize MFGM. This does not make one formula “complete” and the other “incomplete” – every infant formula sold must meet strict nutritional requirements – but it is one of the reasons some parents are drawn to whole-milk European formulas.

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Organic Certification: USDA vs EU Standards

Earth's Best carries the USDA Organic seal, the US standard, and its dairy formula is also Kosher and Clean Label Project Purity Awarded. Kendamil's Organic line is certified organic to EU standards, which govern how the milk is farmed and what can be added. It is important to note that Kendamil's Premium (Classic) line is not organic – so if organic certification is a must-have for you, the fair comparison is Earth's Best Organic Dairy against Kendamil Organic, not the Premium line.

USDA and EU organic rules are broadly similar in spirit – both restrict synthetic pesticides, GMOs, and certain additives – but they are separate systems with different specifics. Neither certification is a measure of safety or FDA status; it describes farming and sourcing practices. For a fuller breakdown, our article on understanding organic labels on baby food compares the two systems in depth.

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Stages, Age Ranges & Specialty Options

Earth's Best keeps things simple with a single 0–12 month formula: you use the same product from birth through your baby's first birthday. That can be convenient, since there is nothing to switch as your baby grows.

Kendamil follows the European staged system: Stage 1 for roughly the first six months, Stage 2 as a follow-on milk, and Stage 3 (and beyond) for toddlers. It is worth knowing that a Stage 1 infant formula is a complete food for the entire first year – you are not required to move up a stage at six months, and moving up is a choice, not a necessity. Many parents stay on Stage 1 longer, or move to Stage 2 for convenience or cost. If you are unsure, our guide on when to switch formula stages explains the details.

On the specialty side, Earth's Best offers Gentle, Sensitivity, and Soy variations, while Kendamil offers Comfort (partially hydrolyzed), Goat, and ready-to-feed liquids. None of these are hypoallergenic or medical formulas; for a diagnosed allergy or medical need, your pediatrician should direct the choice. To understand the difference between everyday “comfort” formulas and truly hypoallergenic ones, see our guide on partially vs extensively hydrolyzed formula.

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Availability, Value & Buying Options

The most practical difference for many families is simply where you can buy each one. Earth's Best is stocked in mainstream US grocery and drugstore chains, so it is easy to pick up on a regular shopping trip. Kendamil, as an imported European brand, is generally purchased from specialty retailers such as EuromallUSA, with fast, tracked shipping to your door.

On value, it is more useful to compare cost per ounce of prepared formula (or per bottle) than sticker price, because tin sizes differ between brands. Premium European whole-milk formulas typically sit at a higher price point than mainstream US organic brands, reflecting the whole-milk base and imported sourcing. If you know Kendamil is your long-term pick, buying by the single can lets you try a stage before committing, and a subscription can smooth out the cost – EuromallUSA offers Subscribe & Save 10%, which you can skip, pause, or cancel anytime. For help estimating how much you will go through, our monthly formula calculator guide is handy.

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Which Formula Should You Choose?

There is no single “best” formula – the right one is the one your baby tolerates well and that fits your budget and routine. That said, here is a simple way to think about it:

Many families also compare Kendamil against other popular brands before deciding. If that is you, our comparisons on Kendamil vs Similac, Bobbie vs Kendamil, and HiPP vs Kendamil can help round out the picture. Whatever you choose, introduce any new formula gradually and check in with your pediatrician if you have questions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kendamil FDA approved?

The FDA does not “approve” any infant formula – not European brands and not American ones like Earth's Best. Instead, the FDA regulates infant formula and requires it to meet strict nutrient and safety standards. Earth's Best is made and sold in the US under that regulatory framework. The European Kendamil tins carried by specialty importers are made to EU standards and brought in for personal use; some Kendamil products have also been part of FDA processes for the US market. Because the situation can change, check the current product details and label.

Which has palm oil, Earth's Best or Kendamil?

Earth's Best Organic Dairy uses organic palm or palm olein as part of its oil blend. Kendamil is formulated without palm oil. This is one of the clearest differences between the two.

Is Earth's Best or Kendamil closer to breast milk?

Both are designed to nourish babies who are not exclusively breastfed, and both use lactose as their main carbohydrate, like breast milk. Kendamil's whole-milk base means it naturally includes MFGM components, while Earth's Best rebuilds fat from a vegetable-oil blend. No formula is identical to breast milk, but both aim to support healthy growth. See our guide on what formula is most similar to breast milk for more.

Can I switch from Earth's Best to Kendamil?

Many parents do switch brands. It is usually done gradually over several days to help your baby adjust to the taste, though a switch is not always necessary. If your baby seems unsettled by a change, or you are switching because of a suspected intolerance, talk to your pediatrician. Our article on whether it is bad to switch formula often covers this in detail.

Is Kendamil Premium the same as Kendamil Organic?

No. Kendamil Premium (sold as “Classic” in the US) is not certified organic, while Kendamil Organic is EU-certified organic. Both are whole-milk and palm-oil-free; the main difference is the organic certification and price. If you want an organic-to-organic comparison with Earth's Best, use Kendamil Organic.

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Sources

• Earth's Best – Organic Dairy Infant Formula (ingredients & certifications)
• Kendamil USA – Organic First Infant Milk
• Kendamil USA – Classic (Premium) First Infant Milk
• U.S. Food & Drug Administration – Infant Formula overview

This article is for general informational purposes and is not medical advice. Infant formula ingredients can change and may vary by market, so always read the current label on the tin you receive. Talk to your pediatrician about your baby's feeding and any specific health needs before switching formulas.