In 2025, Stiftung Warentest tested a total of 19 pre-formula products, including seven certified organic pre-formula products. Our organic pre-formula starter milk based on skimmed cow's milk was also included. (Our organic pre-formula starter milk based on whole milk and goat's milk was not tested.)

The following parameters were examined in this year's test:

• Nutritional quality

• Microbiological quality

• Ease of use of the packaging

• Labelling

• Contaminants: 2-MCPD esters/glycidyl esters, mineral oil components (MOSH), PFAS

Stiftung Warentest has once again confirmed the good quality of our organic Pre starter milk based on skimmed cow's milk. It highlights the very good nutritional and microbiological quality, as well as the good user-friendliness of the packaging and labeling. In addition to the positive results, the contaminant PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) was also detected in the organic Pre milk tested. This is the reason why our rating has dropped from 1.8 (09/2022) to 2.6 (10/2025). 

Stiftung Warentest expressly emphasizes that "... a diet with products that are sufficient in the contaminant assessment due to PFAS [...] is acceptable" (Source: Stiftung Warentest 10/25).

All our products are regularly tested by GALAB Laboratories (an independent service laboratory for external quality control) using accredited methods. No PFAS contamination has been detected in our organic Pre starter milk based on skimmed cow's milk to date.

Thanks to their exceptional properties—namely water-, grease- and dirt-repellency, as well as high resistance to heat and chemicals—PFAS are extremely durable and virtually non-biodegradable (persistent substances).

It is precisely these “positive properties” that have made them particularly attractive for use in industrial processes and consumer products since the 1950s—for example, in non-stick coatings (e.g., pans/Teflon), outdoor textiles (water-repellent), or food packaging (e.g., grease-resistant papers). 

The reason they have only recently been detected in the environment or in products is due to steadily improving laboratory analysis techniques.

PFAS are ubiquitous today and accumulate in the environment and organisms. Residues can be detected in groundwater, soil, air, and plants—and thus also in grain, fruit, vegetables, milk components, and other animal-derived foods, as well as in household drinking water.

There are several ways PFAS can enter the final product during the manufacture of baby formula:

1. Raw materials
   If forage crops or feed are contaminated by contaminated water, soil, or air, PFAS may already be present in the raw materials.
   

2. Production processes and equipment
   Machines, pipes, and filters are used during production. If these contain PFAS-containing materials or are already contaminated, traces can transfer to the product. Cleaning processes and cleaning agents can also indirectly introduce PFAS.
   

3. Packaging
   PFAS are sometimes used to make cardboard, paper, or films grease- or moisture-resistant. These coatings can break down and migrate—thus allowing tiny traces to enter the baby formula.
   

4. Preparation at home (water)
   If baby formula is prepared at home with tap water that contains PFAS, these are additionally introduced directly into the prepared baby formula. 

There is therefore no single cause behind possible traces of PFAS, but rather an interplay of many factors: from general environmental contamination to production steps, packaging, and preparation.

Scientific Assessment of PFAS

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) provides a scientific assessment of PFAS and food safety.

The EFSA has unfortunately found that infants and young children in particular have particularly high PFAS exposure. Babies are simply especially sensitive during the early stages of development. 

PFAS usually enter babies' bodies before birth via the placenta and later through breast milk. Studies show that after birth, PFAS concentrations are often higher through breastfeeding than prenatal exposure. What the concrete consequences of this are has not yet been conclusively determined. There is evidence that PFAS could weaken the immune response to vaccinations. 

This makes strategic and continuous monitoring all the more important – especially for food for the youngest. In its 2022/1431 recommendation, the EU recommends that products frequently consumed by infants and young children should be regularly checked for PFAS.

We work closely with our production facility. Together, we ensure that a thorough risk assessment is carried out for all raw materials, drinking water, packaging and equipment with regard to PFAS contamination. In addition, risk-based monitoring is established and appropriate measures are implemented. This allows us to ensure that PFAS levels remain consistently as low as possible in every batch of our infant formula.

Furthermore, we will introduce an enhanced formulation of our baby milk in the first half of 2026. This will incorporate the latest scientific findings, so you can be sure that your child will continue to receive the best possible quality.

Final thought:

In our view, a standardised method used by all laboratories would be urgently needed and desirable. However, we currently have no influence over this. We will therefore continue to work with accredited laboratories to ensure the best possible quality of our products.