What Does "Sorette Approved" Mean for Infant Formula?

At Sorette, we believe parents deserve more than what they can read on a label or marketing channel. That's why our evaluation goes deeper, asking the questions most consumers wouldn't know to ask, and encouraging brands to provide answers others don't.

Our Infant Formula Framework is an independent, expert-led assessment of the transparency and quality controls behind how formula is made, sourced, and tested. This framework was built in partnership with Sorette's Scientific Advisory Board, including Nan Du, MD, MPH (Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition), Jillian Greaves, MPH, RD, LDN (Integrative Dietitian), and Pavani Gonnabathula, Ph.D (Former Researcher, U.S. FDA & CDC, Clinical Pharmacology & Human Health Risk Assessment).

As Dr. Gonnabathula explains, “Basic compliance is the floor, not the ceiling. The question isn’t just whether a formula meets legal nutrient minimums, but whether it can support growth and development when it’s used as an infant’s primary or only source of nutrition. Because formula is consumed daily, in relatively large amounts for body size, during a highly sensitive developmental window, small differences in formulation, bioavailability, and contaminant control can have meaningful impact.”

As Jillian Greaves, RD, an Integrative Dietitian specializing in women’s health and infant nutrition, explains, “Transparency matters because infant formula is often the sole or primary source of nutrition during a critical window of growth and development. Parents deserve clarity about how products are made and how companies approach quality. When brands are open about their sourcing, testing, and manufacturing practices, it allows both healthcare professionals and parents to evaluate products based on documented information—rather than marketing language or social media. In my experience, transparency is one of the strongest signals that a company takes accountability seriously, yet this information isn’t always easy for parents to access.”

Supply Chain Transparency — We ask brands to describe where ingredients are sourced, how they are processed, where manufacturing occurs, and how products are stored and distributed. This includes ingredient function, sourcing details, processing methods, and extraction techniques. We evaluate whether disclosures are clear and internally consistent. We do not independently audit facilities or verify supply chain operations.

Testing & Quality Controls — Infant formula brands seeking Sorette Approval must conduct batch-level third-party testing through an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory (or equivalent). We ask brands to disclose their testing frequency, which laboratory conducts testing, what contaminants and pathogens are screened, and how nutritional composition is validated. (cont)

We review the clarity and completeness of these disclosures, including whether testing covers heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury), microbial contamination (Cronobacter, Salmonella, E. coli), pesticide residues, mycotoxins, and other emerging contaminants. We do not conduct independent laboratory testing or validate results.

Ingredient & Formulation Disclosure— We review ingredient lists, nutrition panels, macronutrient sources (protein, carbohydrates, fats), DHA/ARA sourcing disclosures, and allergen disclosures. We evaluate how clearly brands explain their formulations. We do not determine nutritional adequacy or medical suitability.

Product Representation & Claims — We review public-facing claims made on packaging and digital channels, including comparisons, regulatory statements, and marketing representations. We evaluate whether claims are supported by the information the brand has shared with us and assess the clarity of their substantiation. We also evaluate packaging safety representations. Brands must confirm that cans and containers are BPA-free and free from toxic linings.

Consumer Transparency & Access — We consider how accessible information is to parents, whether testing disclosures are publicly available, whether sourcing information can be easily found, and whether brands provide lot-level or digital transparency tools such as QR codes or batch-specific test results. We encourage brands to make testing results and sourcing information accessible so parents can clearly see what they're buying. Transparency isn't just about having information. It's about making it accessible.

Regulatory Representations — Brands seeking the Sorette Seal of Approval must formally represent that their formula complies with applicable regulations in the markets where it is sold. We review the presence and clarity of those representations. We do not independently verify regulatory compliance.

Each infant formula product is evaluated using a structured scoring rubric that reflects the quality of disclosure. Approval requires meeting internal minimum transparency thresholds and demonstrating no material inconsistencies.

Most consumers can read the back of a label, but that only tells part of the story. What we do is ask the questions that labels don't answer: How are products tested? Where do ingredients come from? How do brands respond when things change? What we look for is a brand that is willing to be open, consistent, and clear.

For complete evaluation criteria across all six pillars, see our Infant Formula Evaluation Framework.