Goat Milk-Based Formula Myths: Facts Every Parent Should Know

By Kelsey Kunik, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Goat milk-based infant formula has been used to nourish infants for over a decade in countries around the world. Recently it’s become a popular choice in the United States as well. Despite its growing availability, there are many misconceptions about goat milk-based infant formula swirling around the internet, so it’s understandable if you have some questions about the goat milk-based formula myths you may have heard.

To ease your worries up front, Ari Brown, MD, FAAP, explains why goat milk-based infant formula has been a popular parent choice around the world and is finally making an appearance in the United States and Canada. “It contains all the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that babies need to grow and thrive with the benefit of being naturally gentler and overall better tolerated by babies than cow milk-based products,” Dr. Brown says. The American Academy of Pediatrics agrees, recommending goat milk-based infant formula along with cow milk-based formula and soy-based formula as the primary options for non-breastfed infants.1

Despite these expert-backed recommendations, choosing the right infant formula can seem confusing, especially with all the misinformation you read online. To help set things straight, we’re uncovering what parents misunderstand about goat milk-based formula when it comes to nutrition, quality, and availability.

Table of contents

Understanding Goat Milk Formula Myths

Myth vs. Fact: The Truth About Goat Milk Formula

Goat Milk Formula Myth FAQs

Why Parents Shouldn’t Dismiss Goat Milk Formula

Understanding Goat Milk Formula Myths vs Facts

As a parent, you want to provide the best, safest nutrition possible for your baby. If you’ve seen new options popping up on shelves but worry about the possible disadvantages of goat milk-based formula for babies, we understand that’s a natural reaction to something new. Many common misconceptions about goat milk-based formula come from the fact that goat milk itself is not safe for infants under 1 year of age, and the same caution applies to cow milk. Other myths are based on a misunderstanding of what goat milk-based formula actually is. Thankfully, because goat milk-based formula has been used in various countries, including Europe, for decades, there is plenty of research proving its safety and effectiveness as a top baby formula option.

To ease your mind, we’re diving into the most popular false claims about goat milk-based formula, uncovering goat milk formula myths vs reality.

Myth vs. Fact: The Truth About Goat Milk Formula

Myth 1: Goat Milk-based Formula Does Not Meet FDA Regulations | The Truth: Kabrita Goat Milk-Based Infant Formula Meets all FDA Regulations and is Pediatrician Recommended

All infant formulas legally sold in the United States must meet FDA requirements for nutritional adequacy and safety.2 Kabrita Goat milk-based infant formula is the first and only goat milk-based infant formula that has gone through the entire FDA review process and meets all FDA requirements. There are two other goat milk-based infant formula options legally available in the US via the temporary enforcement discretion that President Biden put into place in 2022 to help alleviate the infant formula shortage.

“Both cow and goat milk-based commercial infant formulas meet all the nutritional requirements for human babies,” says Dr. Ari Brown, “ [goat milk] is naturally gentle and easy for babies to digest, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends it as a first line nutritional option for a baby’s first year.”3

Myth 2: Goat Milk-Based Formula is Lactose-Free | The Truth: Lactose is the Primary Sugar in Goat’s Milk-Based Formula, Just Like Breastmilk

The primary sugar found in breastmilk, cow milk, and goat milk is lactose. While the amount of lactose found in each of these sources may slightly differ, they’re all made of the exact same composition.4 If a baby has a true lactose intolerance, soy-based formulas are the safest choice.

With this in mind, only a very small percentage of infants have a true inability to digest lactose, with a condition called galactosemia, explains Dr. Brown. The fussiness that many infants experience with cow milk formula may actually be due to the proteins, and not the sugar.

Myth 3: Goat Milk-Based Formula is Only For Babies Allergic to Cow’s Milk | The Truth: Goat’s Milk-Based Formula is a Good Option for Most Babies, But Not Suitable For Infants with a Cow Protein Allergy

Goat milk-based infant formula is an excellent first-line option for formula-fed or combo-fed babies, but is not a suitable option for babies with a milk protein allergy. “The only time I cannot recommend [goat milk-based formula] is for the 3% of babies with a milk protein allergy. Babies who suffer from milk protein allergy can experience symptoms with any animal milk,” says Dr. Brown.

The safest option for these infants is a hypoallergenic formula like extensively hydrolyzed formula or, in some cases, an amino acid formula as recommended by your pediatrician.5

Myth 4: Cow Milk-Based Formula Is Superior to Goat Milk-Based Formula | The Truth: Goat Milk-Based Formula Contains All the Nutrients Babies Need and May Be Better Tolerated

Since cow milk-based formula has historically been the most popular infant formula option in the United States, you may believe that it’s superior to goat milk-based infant formula. We know that cow milk-based formula legally sold in the US has the calories, protein, iron, folic acid, and other essential vitamins and minerals babies need since that’s what we’re used to.

Goat milk-based infant formula legally sold in the US meets the same nutrition requirements, with some slight advantages over cow milk-based formula. Dr. Brown explains that the proteins in goat milk-based formula are more easily digested and that goat milk has a higher volume and more diverse types of key prebiotics called oligosaccharides. “This bioactive ingredient helps with both digestion and immune function and it is a key nutrient found in human milk,” says Dr. Brown.

Kabrita goat milk-based infant formula offers additional benefits as a European formula, meeting the EU’s requirements for DHA, folic acid, and iron plus additional oligosaccharides to help the formula more closely mimic breastmilk.

Myth 5: Goat Milk-Based Formula is Hard to Get | The Truth: Goat Milk-Based Formula is Now Widely Available and Accessible In the U.S

Goat milk-based infant formula has been used in European countries since 2013.6 In 2023, the FDA and AAP updated their guidelines, including goat milk-based formula as an acceptable infant formula option.1,2 Kabrita became the first European goat milk-based infant formula to go through the entire FDA review process and became available to all American families in January of 2024.

Goat Milk-Based Formula Myth FAQs

Do pediatricians recommend goat milk-based formula?

Yes! In 2023, the American Academy of Pediatrics updated its recommendations to include goat milk-based formula as an acceptable first-line option for formula-fed or combo-fed babies.3

What are the disadvantages of goat milk-based formula for babies?

Goat milk-based infant formula legally sold in the United States meets nutrition requirements set by the FDA. Compared to cow milk-based formula, goat milk-based infant formula may have an advantage for babies with sensitive tummies, as the proteins may be easier to digest.7

Is goats milk formula recommended?

Goat milk-based infant formula is recommended as a first-line option for all healthy term infants, aside from those with a cow milk protein allergy or infants requiring specialized nutrition formulas.

Is goat milk-based formula FDA-approved?

The FDA does not approve any infant formulas, however, they do set standards for nutrients and safety that all infant formulas which go through the full FDA review process must meet. In 2022, the US government issued an enforcement discretion which allowed for certain international infant formulas to be flown in to help alleviate the infant formula shortage. As part of this, there are a few other goat milk-based infant formulas temporarily available. Kabrita Goat milk-based infant formula has gone through the entire FDA review process and is the first and only goat milk-based infant formula that meets all FDA requirements. Additionally, it meets the strict European safety and manufacturing standards.

Is Kendamil goat FDA approved?

The FDA does not approve any infant formula. Kabrita Goat milk-based infant formula has gone through the entire FDA review process and is the first and only goat milk-based infant formula that meets all FDA requirements.

Does Kendamil goat have enough iron?

Kendamil and Kabrita goat milk-based infant formula both provide 1.2 mg of iron per 100 kcal of formula, meeting the FDA requirements of 1 mg per 100 kcal or formula.

Why is goat milk not recommended for infants?

“Neither goat milk nor cow milk are appropriate substitutes for human milk in the first year of life,” says Dr. Brown. “Unmodified, they contain an inappropriate amount of protein and lack essential vitamins and minerals that babies need to grow.” Goat milk infant formula is recommended, however goat milk is not.

What are the side effects of goat milk?

Breastmilk is the easiest nutrition source for most babies to digest and contains bioactive ingredients that are impossible to replicate. While goat milk-based infant formula is not an exact replacement, it more closely mimics breastmilk when compared to cow milk-based formula, thanks to its protein and carbohydrate composition.7,8

Why Parents Shouldn’t Dismiss Goat Milk-Based Formula

While goat milk-based infant formula may be a newer option on shelves, it’s a safe, effective, and nourishing choice for most babies. Kabrita Goat Milk-Based infant formula is the only goat milk-based infant formula that has gone through the entire FDA review process, ensuring it meets all FDA requirements for infant nutrition, with added benefits of oligosaccharides, DHA, and easy-to-digest proteins, making it an excellent alternative or supplement to breastmilk for your baby. Even with these five goat milk-based formula myths busted, always feel confident in speaking with your pediatrician to make the most informed decision when it comes to feeding your baby.

References

1. Choosing a baby formula. (2023, October). HealthyChildren.org. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/formula-feeding/Pages/choosing-an-infant-formula.aspx

2. Program, H. F. (2024, December 2). Infant Formula. U.S. Food And Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/food/resources-you-food/infant-formula

3. Greer, F. R. (Ed.). (2025). Pediatric nutrition (9th ed.). American Academy of Pediatrics

4. Xu, M., Wang, Y., Dai, Z., Zhang, Y., Li, Y., & Wang, J. (2015). Comparison of growth and nutritional status in infants receiving goat milk–based formula and cow milk–based formula: a randomized, double-blind study. Food & Nutrition Research, 59(1), 28613. https://doi.org/10.3402/fnr.v59.28613

5. Cow’s milk protein allergy. (2024, February 1). American Academy of Pediatrics. https://publications.aap.org/first1000days/module/28106/Cow-s-Milk-Protein-Allergy

6. History of goat milk & infant nutrition - Ausnutria Nutrition Institute. (2023, November 6). Ausnutria Nutrition Institute. https://ausnutria-nutrition-institute.com/knowledge-base/history/

7. Jianqin, S., Leiming, X., Lu, X., Yelland, G. W., Ni, J., & Clarke, A. J. (2015). Effects of milk containing only A2 beta casein versus milk containing both A1 and A2 beta casein proteins on gastrointestinal physiology, symptoms of discomfort, and cognitive behavior of people with self-reported intolerance to traditional cows’ milk. Nutrition Journal, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-016-0147-z

8. Gallier, S., Tolenaars, L., & Prosser, C. (2020). Whole goat milk as a source of fat and milk fat globule membrane in infant formula. Nutrients, 12(11), 3486. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12113486