What is Holle PRE?
Holle PRE is a German organic infant formula for babies from birth to around 6 months, made from Demeter biodynamic skimmed milk, with organic lactose as its only carbohydrate — no starch, no maltodextrin, no added sugar. This listing is one 400 g box, which makes about 91 fl oz of prepared formula, or roughly eighteen 5 oz bottles.
What separates it from every other European baby formula on this site is the farming standard behind the milk. Holle PRE is EU Organic and Demeter biodynamic certified. EU Organic is the baseline nearly every European brand meets. Demeter is a second, stricter certificate covering how the whole farm is run — and no other brand in this catalogue holds it.
PRE is the gentlest starting point in Holle's German line. Its carbohydrate is organic lactose and nothing else, the same sugar that makes up most of the carbohydrate in breast milk. Holle Stage 1, sold in the same 400 g box for the same age band, uses maltodextrin alongside lactose. If a lactose-only organic infant formula from day one is what you are after, PRE is the box in this range that gives you it.
Where it sits in the feeding journey: PRE and Stage 1 both cover birth to about 6 months, and you can use either. Some parents move from PRE to Stage 1 if their baby seems hungry sooner between feeds. At around 6 months you go up to Holle Stage 2, the follow-on formula for babies starting solids. PRE works as your baby's only milk or as a top-up alongside breastfeeding.
0–6 moFrom birth
400 gOne box
~91 fl oz≈ 18 × 5 oz bottles
GermanyDemeter biodynamic milk
What is Holle PRE made of?
Holle PRE is built on Demeter biodynamic skimmed milk and a whey product, organic vegetable oils, organic lactose as the only carbohydrate, and DHA from microalgae oil — plus the vitamin and mineral premix that EU law requires every infant formula to carry.
| Ingredient | What it is there for |
|---|---|
| Demeter biodynamic skimmed milk | The protein and calcium base, from farms certified to the Demeter biodynamic standard. |
| Whey product | Shifts the whey-to-casein balance so the protein suits a newborn rather than an older baby. |
| Organic lactose | The only carbohydrate in the box, and the sugar that dominates breast milk. |
| Organic vegetable oils | Palm, sunflower and rapeseed oil supply fat and the essential fatty acids a baby cannot make. |
| Microalgae oil | The DHA source — an omega-3 for brain and eye development, grown from algae rather than taken from fish. |
| Vitamin and mineral premix | Vitamins A, C, D, E and K plus iron, zinc and calcium, at the levels EU infant formula law sets. |
Two things are worth saying plainly. The DHA in Holle PRE comes from microalgae oil rather than fish oil, which is unusual within this line — Holle's German Stage 1, Stage 2 and Stage 3 all use fish oil instead. And the vegetable oil blend does contain palm oil. Palm oil is used in most European formulas to bring the fat profile closer to breast milk, but if palm-oil-free is on your list, this is not the box for it.
Holle prints a full nutrition panel on the side of every box. We have not reproduced per-100ml figures in this description because we only publish numbers we have checked against a current box — read the panel on the box you receive, and get in touch if anything on it does not match what you expected.
What does Demeter biodynamic certification actually mean?
Demeter is a farming certificate that sits on top of EU Organic rather than replacing it. EU Organic mostly sets out what a farm may not use — no synthetic pesticides, no synthetic fertiliser, no GMO feed. Demeter adds rules about how the whole farm has to work: it must run as a closed cycle, growing its own fodder, composting its own manure back into its own soil, and keeping no more animals than that land can feed. Holle is the only brand in this catalogue that carries Demeter certification — HiPP, Kendamil and Aptamil are all EU Organic only.
In plain terms: an organic farm can buy in organic feed and organic fertiliser from somewhere else and still be organic. A Demeter biodynamic farm has to close that loop itself. The grass the cows eat is grown on the same land their manure is composted back into, and the size of the herd is capped by how much that land can actually support. Demeter also sets animal welfare conditions that go beyond the EU organic minimum.
Holle has been working this way for a long time. The company was founded in Switzerland in 1933, took the world's first Demeter processing contract in 1951, and moved its whole infant formula range onto full Demeter quality in 2009. The formula itself is manufactured in Germany. This is not a badge Holle added recently for marketing — it is the reason the company exists in the shape it does.
Demeter biodynamic
The farm runs as one closed cycle
- Fodder grown on the farm itself
- Manure composted back into the same soil
- Herd size limited to the land that feeds it
Whole-farm standard, not just an input ban
Organic only
A list of inputs the farm may not use
- Feed and fertiliser may be bought in
- Rules cover what is not used
- No closed farm cycle required
Meets the organic rules, no cycle required
Both figures are schematic drawings of how the two farming systems are organised. They are illustrations of the standards, not photographs, maps or scale drawings of any particular farm. Demeter certifies the farm and the milk it produces; the vitamins, minerals and oils that EU law requires every infant formula to contain are added during manufacture, exactly as they are for every other brand.
What is not in Holle PRE?
No starch, no maltodextrin, no added sugar, no soy, no gluten, no GMO ingredients and no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. Organic lactose is the only carbohydrate in the box, and the DHA comes from microalgae rather than fish oil.
- No added starch
- No maltodextrin
- No added sugar
- Soy free
- Gluten free
- No artificial additives
What it does contain, and what we are not going to bury in small print, is palm oil as part of the organic vegetable oil blend. Nearly every European formula we stock contains it. Kendamil Organic Stage 1 is the palm-oil-free option in our range, though Kendamil does not carry Demeter certification.
How does Holle PRE compare to HiPP PRE (German) and Holle Stage 1?
Holle PRE and HiPP PRE are both lactose-only starter formulas for a newborn. HiPP adds a prebiotic and live cultures that Holle does not; Holle adds a Demeter biodynamic certificate that HiPP does not. Holle Stage 1 is the same 400 g box for the same age band, but it uses maltodextrin alongside the lactose.
| Stage PRE · from birth | Holle PRE | HiPP PRE (German) | Holle Stage 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organic certification | EU Organic + Demeter | EU Organic | EU Organic + Demeter |
| Milk base | Skimmed milk + whey | Skimmed milk + whey | Skimmed milk + whey |
| Carbohydrate | Lactose only | Lactose only | Lactose + maltodextrin |
| Prebiotic / probiotic | None | GOS + live cultures | None |
| DHA source | Microalgae oil | Fish oil | Fish oil |
| Palm oil | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pack size | 400 g box | 600 g box | 400 g box |
Being straight with you: if you want a probiotic and a prebiotic in the box, HiPP PRE is the better buy and we stock it — HiPP adds GOS and live cultures, and Holle adds neither at any stage of its German line. HiPP's box is 600 g against Holle's 400 g, so compare the price per prepared ounce rather than the shelf price. Both contain palm oil. What Holle PRE has and HiPP does not is the Demeter certificate on the milk. If you would rather have the stricter farming standard than the gut-health additions, this is the box. And if you are choosing between this and Holle Stage 1, the difference that matters for most babies is the carbohydrate: PRE is lactose only, Stage 1 adds maltodextrin.
How many boxes of formula will my baby need per month?
One 400 g box of Holle PRE makes about 91 fl oz of prepared formula — roughly eighteen 5 oz bottles. A newborn taking around 20 fl oz a day empties a box every four or five days, which is about six to seven boxes a month. By three to four months, at roughly 30 fl oz a day, that rises to nine or ten. Averaged across the whole birth-to-six-month window, budget for about eight boxes a month.
Here is the arithmetic so you can redo it with your own baby's numbers: boxes per month = (fl oz per day × 30) ÷ 91. A baby on 24 fl oz a day drinks 720 fl oz in a month, which is just under eight boxes.
The 400 g box is small by European standards, and that catches people out on price. Holle's German line uses 400 g for PRE and Stage 1 and moves to 600 g from Stage 2. HiPP's German boxes are 600 g and the Dutch tins are 800 g. Compare price per prepared ounce, never the price on the shelf.
Estimates for a baby whose milk feeds all come from formula. Every baby feeds differently — use these for planning, not as a target.
How do you prepare Holle PRE?
Boil fresh water and let it cool to about 122°F (50°C), pour the measured water into a sterilised bottle first, then add one level scoop for every 1 fl oz (30 ml) of water, shake until no powder is left, cool to body temperature, test a drop on your wrist and feed within the hour.
122°F / 50°CWater temperature
1 : 30 mlOne level scoop per 1 fl oz
~4.4 gScoop size in this box
1 hourDiscard after feeding starts
1
Sterilise everything
Wash your hands, then sterilise the bottle, teat, collar and cap before you start. Do this for every single feed.
2
Boil and cool the water
Boil fresh drinking water and let it cool to about 122°F (50°C) — the temperature Holle prints on the box.
3
Water into the bottle first
Pour the measured water into the sterilised bottle before any powder goes in. Never the other way round.
4
Add level scoops
Add one level scoop for every 1 fl oz (30 ml) of water, levelling each scoop with the built-in leveller. Never heap or pack a scoop.
5
Cap and shake
Cap the bottle and shake or swirl until no powder is left clinging to the sides or sitting at the bottom.
6
Cool, test, feed
Stand the bottle in a bowl of warm water if it needs warming, test a drop on the inside of your wrist, and feed within one hour.
Always follow the feeding chart printed on your box, and never add extra powder or extra water. Do not use artificially softened water, bottled mineral water high in sodium, or water that has been boiled more than once. Make a fresh bottle for every feed, never reheat a bottle, never use a microwave, and throw away anything left one hour after your baby starts drinking.
A note on water temperature. Holle specifies water at about 50°C for this formula, and that is the instruction printed on your box. It is set deliberately — hotter water damages the heat-sensitive vitamins this formula is built around.
Many health authorities, including the NHS and WHO, advise 70°C or hotter for any powdered formula, because powder is not sterile and that temperature kills bacteria that can occasionally be present. The difference matters most for newborns, premature babies, and babies with weakened immunity. If your baby is in one of those groups, ask your paediatrician or health visitor which to follow for your situation.
A note on water temperature. Holle specifies water at about 50°C for this formula, and that is the instruction printed on your box. It is set deliberately — hotter water damages the heat-sensitive vitamins this formula is built around.
Many health authorities, including the NHS and WHO, advise 70°C or hotter for any powdered formula, because powder is not sterile and that temperature kills bacteria that can occasionally be present. The difference matters most for newborns, premature babies, and babies with weakened immunity. If your baby is in one of those groups, ask your paediatrician or health visitor which to follow for your situation.
Please read before buying
Holle PRE is a cow's milk based infant formula and is not suitable for a baby with a diagnosed cow's milk protein allergy. It is not hypoallergenic, not lactose free, and not a treatment for colic or reflux. Never dilute or concentrate the powder, and follow the feeding chart printed on your box. Breastfeeding is best for your baby — talk to your health visitor or doctor before starting or changing a formula.
Store the box in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. Once opened, use within three to four weeks and keep the inner bag folded closed between feeds. Never reheat or microwave prepared formula.
Packaging & pack size
Holle's German range is sold in a cardboard carton, not a metal tin — this one is a 400 g box with the powder sealed inside a foil bag and a scoop included. Cartons can pick up corner knocks in transit. What matters is the inner foil bag: as long as it is sealed and the powder inside is dry and loose, the formula is unaffected.
Holle PRE: frequently asked questions
What age is Holle PRE for?
Holle PRE is a starter infant formula suitable from birth to around 6 months. It can be your baby's only source of milk or used alongside breastfeeding. From about 6 months, when solid food is being introduced, you move up to a follow-on formula — in Holle's German line that is Stage 2, sold in a 600 g box.
What is the difference between Holle PRE and Holle Stage 1?
Both cover birth to about 6 months and both are made with Demeter biodynamic milk. The difference is the carbohydrate. Holle PRE uses organic lactose and nothing else. Holle Stage 1 uses lactose together with maltodextrin, which some parents find keeps a hungrier baby satisfied for longer between feeds. If a lactose-only carbohydrate is what you want, PRE is the box to buy.
Is Holle PRE Demeter certified, and what does that actually mean?
Yes. Holle PRE is both EU Organic certified and Demeter biodynamic certified. Demeter is a stricter, whole-farm standard layered on top of organic: the farm has to grow its own fodder, compost its own manure back into its own soil, keep no more animals than that land can feed, and use no synthetic fertiliser or pesticide at all. No other brand we stock holds it.
Does Holle PRE contain palm oil?
Yes. The organic vegetable oil blend in Holle PRE contains palm oil alongside sunflower and rapeseed oil. Palm oil is used in most European infant formulas because it helps match the fat profile of breast milk. If you want an organic formula without palm oil, Kendamil is the brand in our range to look at, though Kendamil does not carry Demeter certification.
Where does the DHA in Holle PRE come from?
The DHA in Holle PRE comes from microalgae oil rather than fish oil. DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid that supports brain and eye development, and EU law requires it in every infant formula sold in Europe. Worth knowing if you are comparing across the range: Holle's German Stage 1, Stage 2 and Stage 3 use fish oil as their DHA source instead.
Can I use Holle PRE alongside breastfeeding?
Yes. Holle PRE can be used as a complete feed or as a top-up alongside breast milk, which is how many parents use a PRE-stage formula. Breastfeeding is best for your baby, so speak to your health visitor or doctor before you start combination feeding, and do not stop breastfeeding on the assumption that you will be able to restart easily.
How many 400 g boxes of Holle PRE will I need per month?
A 400 g box makes about 91 fl oz of prepared formula. A newborn on roughly 20 fl oz a day gets through six to seven boxes a month. By three to four months, at around 30 fl oz a day, it is closer to nine or ten. Across the whole birth-to-six-month period, about eight boxes a month is a sensible figure to budget for.
Related formulas at Bonpek Baby
- Holle Stage 1 (German)Same age band and the same Demeter milk, with maltodextrin alongside the lactose.
- Holle Stage 2 (German)The follow-on box for 6 to 10 months, once solid food starts.
- HiPP PRE (German)The lactose-only rival, with a GOS prebiotic and live cultures Holle does not add.
- Kendamil Organic Stage 1Organic, whole-milk based and palm-oil free — the option if palm oil is your sticking point.
- HiPP Comfort (German)A specialist formula for persistent colic or constipation, on a doctor's advice.
- All baby formulasBrowse every European formula we stock, by brand and stage.
Why parents buy from Bonpek Baby
- Authentic from Europe for 8+ years
- US stock — no shipping or customs delays
- Same-day pickup & delivery for locals
- Always fresh — receiving weekly
- Best prices, or we'll match and add a free gift
- Trusted by 9,000+ parents in the US
- Prompt customer support text line
Product information last reviewed by the Bonpek Baby team in September 2026 against the manufacturer's current published ingredient and nutrition data. Always check the label on your tin, as manufacturers reformulate from time to time.
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