Latest news with #NaraOrganics
TechCrunch
29-07-2025
- Health
- TechCrunch
Fed up with brands that use corn syrup and skim milk, this mother developed her own ‘clean' baby formula
When Esther Hallam welcomed her daughter, Nara, into the world, she faced the challenge of searching for trustworthy brands that offered high-quality, organic infant formula in the U.S. Despite being available for nearly 160 years, the quality of infant formula options in the U.S. is still lacking, she believes. Many manufacturers opt for skim milk to cut costs, which allows them to add oils to meet nutritional requirements. Several formulas contain palm oil, soy, and corn syrup, which aren't recommended for infants due to their potential health risks. For instance, research has linked corn syrup to an increased risk of obesity, while palm oil has been shown to decrease calcium and fat absorption. 'I became fixated by the fact that there wasn't a good, organic infant formula that I trusted, that I wanted to feed my daughter in the United States, which is a first-world country,' Hallam told TechCrunch. For the past seven years, Hallam has been developing her own organic, whole-milk infant formula from scratch, with the help of scientists and pediatric nutritionists. Today marks the official launch of Nara Organics, which meets both European and U.S. safety standards, and is FDA-registered and USDA-certified. Most importantly, the formula is free from palm oil, soy, corn syrup, maltodextrin, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), providing a clean option for conscientious parents looking to nourish their babies with the best possible ingredients. Nara Organics claims to have the highest percentage of milk fat of any formula sold in the U.S. It also has the lowest percentage of plant-based oils, as the use of whole milk means that less oil is needed to achieve the correct fat content. The ingredient list on the package includes an 'organic vegetable oil blend' made up of organic sunflower, coconut, and rapeseed oils, which provide essential fatty acids that support healthy development. Techcrunch event Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise. Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise. San Francisco | REGISTER NOW Image Credits:Nara Organics While there are several brands with organic formulas, such as Bobbie and ByHeart, these products are manufactured in the U.S. In contrast, Nara Organics chose not to produce its formula in American facilities, potentially due to previous issues with Cronobacter contamination, a germ that can survive in dry foods. In recent years, there have been several recalls of baby formula linked to outbreaks of Cronobacter. This is why the company prefers to manufacture its formula in Germany, which just so happens to be the birthplace of powdered infant formula. Chief marketing officer Meika Hollender explained to TechCrunch that the company's manufacturing partner utilizes technology 'that doesn't exist anywhere else in the world,' she said. 'A critical piece of infant formula, in terms of its shelf life, is how much oxygen gets into the can while you're sealing it. So if you go to facilities in the U.S., they're open. When you're filling, canning, and sealing the can, they're just sort of out in the open air of the facility. And at our facility, the cans actually go into this chamber that has no oxygen in them,' Hollender said. Nara has secured a total of $32 million from AlleyCorp, BBG Ventures, Corazon Ventures, Gingerbread Capital, and Torch Capital. Additionally, the company has attracted attention from high-profile celebrity investors, including tennis superstar Serena Williams, 'Jane the Virgin' actress Gina Rodriguez, and the creators of 'Nobody Wants This,' Erin and Sara Foster, among others. Nicky Hilton, fashion designer and philanthropist, is also an investor and advisor. 'I breastfed all of my three children, but they also all had formula,' Hilton told us. 'Every baby and parent is different, and not all mothers are able to breastfeed due to medical, physical, or personal reasons. I think there's so much judgment and unnecessary pressure about breastfeeding… It's really exciting to be a part of an innovative brand that is disrupting the baby formula market.' With this support, Nara Organics could position itself as a key player in the organic formula market, which was valued at approximately $20.7 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $37 billion by 2032. Image Credits:Nara Organics The formula is now available for purchase on the company's website. Customers can choose the starter bundle for $36, which includes 2 cans. Alternatively, they can sign up for a subscription that delivers either 4 or 6 cans every 4 weeks, priced at $136 or $243, respectively. Each can makes about 25 4-ounce bottles. It can also be purchased through the company's free mobile app, which Hallam launched in 2018. The app is designed to assist users in tracking essential aspects of infant care, including monitoring baby feeding times, keeping a log of wet and soiled diapers, and tracking tummy time exercises. As part of its launch, the company is donating over 1,400 cans of infant formula to the Good+ Foundation, a nonprofit organization working to end multi-generational poverty by supplying essential items and services to under-resourced parents and caregivers.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nicky Hilton Shares Breastfeeding Photo in Support of New Infant Feeding Campaign
Nicky Hilton wants all new mothers to know that, no matter how they feed their babies, they're supported. The entrepreneur, 41, has teamed up with Nara Organics in support of The 2am Club, a social campaign which aims to share insight into the pressures placed on mothers during their feeding journeys and the urgent need for maternal mental health advocacy. To announce the partnership, Hilton shared a personal photo of herself breastfeeding one of her three children via Instagram on Friday, June 6. 'Each person's feeding journey is unique, and I'm excited to support @Narababy as an investor,' she wrote alongside the photo, in which she looks at the camera as her newborn nurses. 'Their innovative baby formula, launching this spring, is something I'm truly proud to be a part of. Share your feeding confession at Celebrity Moms Share Breast-Feeding Pictures Spearheaded by celebrity moms Hilton, Karla Souza, Jordan Foster and Katie Lee, 'The 2 AM Club invites all parents to share raw, unfiltered 'feeding confessions' through voice notes, short written stories, and photos, offering an honest look at what feeding really feels like,' a press release shared with Us Weekly read. 'The goal is to normalize the hard, the beautiful, and everything in between, especially during those isolating, sleep-deprived hours when self-doubt creeps in.' Hilton shares daughters Teddy, 7, and Lily-Grace, 8, and son Chasen, 2, with her husband, James Rothschild. In her post, she shared that she breastfed all three of her children, but not without challenges. 'While I enjoyed the moments of bonding, the latching was often painful,' she shared via Instagram. 'I didn't find breastfeeding as effortlessly as I'd hoped. Plus there was so much pressure to keep going because it's what society tells us we should do. The expectations placed on mothers can be overwhelming. We're just trying our best, and feeding our children — whether through breastfeeding or bottle-feeding shouldn't come with guilt or judgment. You have to listen to your body and do what feels right.' Other moms shared their photos and stories as well, with Souza, 39, tandem nursing two of her three babies in a photo shared by The 2am Club and Lee, 43, noting that 'breastfeeding worked really well' for her and daughter Iris, now 4. Foster, 39, also posted a photo from her feeding journey via Instagram Stories on Friday and wrote, 'I'm grateful to have this community for round 3. As hard as newborn things are, it's the feeding I'm most nervous for every time.' Kathy Hilton Defends Paris Hilton Against Mom-Shamers: I 'Totally Understood' the Diaper Dilemma Jordan, the style director of Favorite Daughter and sister of Erin and Sara Foster, added that she's most jealous of 'those that breastfeed without difficulty.' 'With my third baby, I plan to introduce formula much earlier and feel relieved that I will do so without any guilt,' Jordan, who's expecting her third child, shared.
