How to Read a European Baby Formula Label: A Parent's 6-Step Guide (2026)
A European baby formula pack can look like a puzzle, especially when it is printed in German, Dutch or French. The good news is that the label follows rules set by EU law, so the same six parts appear on every pack and always mean the same thing. This guide shows you how to read a baby formula label step by step: the legal name, the age line, the ingredient list, the nutrition table, the preparation panel and the claims you will not see, and how to compare it all with the US formula label you may be used to.
Step 1: The Name Tells You the Category
Under Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/127, the name of the product is fixed by law. A formula made for babies from birth must be called infant formula, and a formula made for older babies must be called follow-on formula. If the protein comes entirely from cow's or goat's milk, the pack uses the "milk" version of the name instead. Each EU language has its own official wording, so a German pack will show the German words rather than the English ones.
| Language | Infant formula | Follow-on formula | Milk-protein-only versions (infant / follow-on) |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Infant formula | Follow-on formula | Infant milk / Follow-on milk |
| German | Säuglingsanfangsnahrung | Folgenahrung | Säuglingsmilchnahrung / Folgemilch |
| Dutch | Volledige zuigelingenvoeding | Opvolgzuigelingenvoeding | Zuigelingenmelk / Opvolgmelk |
| French | Préparation pour nourrissons | Préparation de suite | Lait pour nourrissons / Lait de suite |
The stage numbers you see on the front of the pack, such as PRE, 1, 2 or 3, are the brand's own product naming. They are not legal categories. The legal name is the line that sets the category, so it is the first thing to find when you flip the pack over.
Searching for a translation? Type the German, Dutch or French word from the pack into a search engine along with "baby formula meaning." The legal names above are the same on every compliant EU pack.
Step 2: The Age Line
EU law requires an age and suitability statement, and the wording depends on the category.
- Infant formula must state that it is suitable for infants from birth when they are not breastfed.
- Follow-on formula must state that it is suitable only for infants over six months, that it should form only part of a diversified diet, and that it is not a substitute for breast milk during the first six months. The decision to begin complementary feeding should be made on professional advice, based on the individual baby's needs.
If a pack has no age line, or an age that does not match the category printed in the name, that is worth a second look before you buy.
Step 3: The Ingredient List
Ingredients follow the general EU food labeling rule (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011): they are listed in descending order of weight, as recorded when they were used in manufacture. The first ingredient is the one there is the most of. Allergens, such as milk or soy, must be emphasised through the typeface, for example in bold, so they stand out from the rest of the list.
For infant formula, the most useful line to find is the first carbohydrate. We cover why in our guide to the carbohydrate rules in European formula: most infant formulas must contain at least 4.5 g of lactose per 100 kcal, and the carbohydrate line tells you which sugars a manufacturer chose to add next to it. Our guide to the EU and US rulebooks puts the carbohydrate, DHA and iron rules side by side.
Step 4: The Nutrition Table
This is where European and American labels look most different. In the EU, the energy value and nutrients of infant formula are expressed per 100 ml of the formula ready for use, prepared according to the manufacturer's instructions. The label may also add values per 100 g of the powder as sold. Infant formula labels cannot show nutrients as a percentage of reference intakes.
US labels work differently. Under FDA rules (21 CFR 107.10), nutrient information is given per 100 kilocalories of the formula as prepared, and the label must state how many fluid ounces supply 100 kilocalories.
How to compare the two
To convert an EU value to a per-100-kcal figure, divide the nutrient amount by the energy per 100 ml, then multiply by 100. For example, using illustrative numbers rather than any specific product: a label showing 1.3 g protein and 67 kcal per 100 ml works out to about 1.9 g protein per 100 kcal (1.3 ÷ 67 × 100).
EU law sets the energy of infant formula at 250 to 293 kJ per 100 ml, which is 60 to 70 kcal per 100 ml. If the energy line on a pack falls outside that range, the pack is not a standard EU infant formula.
| What the law sets (infant formula) | Range |
|---|---|
| Energy | 60 to 70 kcal per 100 ml |
| Protein (cow's or goat's milk protein) | 1.8 to 2.5 g per 100 kcal |
| Fat | 4.4 to 6.0 g per 100 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 9 to 14 g per 100 kcal |
| Lactose (most infant formulas) | At least 4.5 g per 100 kcal |
| DHA | 20 to 50 mg per 100 kcal |
The ranges in this table come from Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2016/127 and apply to standard milk-based infant formula. Soy-based, hydrolysate and lactose-free formulas have their own limits for some lines. For more on DHA, see our European vs. American formula guide.
Step 5: The Preparation Panel
Instructions for preparation, storage and disposal are mandatory on both infant and follow-on formula, along with a warning about the health hazards of incorrect preparation and storage. This panel is the most important part of the pack for daily use.
- Use the scoop that came in that pack, level it, and follow that pack's own table for scoops and water. Scoop sizes and water amounts differ from pack to pack, so never swap scoops between brands.
- Never add extra water or extra powder to stretch a feeding or to make it more filling. Changing the ratio printed on the label can be harmful to your baby.
- Read the storage and disposal lines for how long a prepared bottle can stand and what to do with leftovers.
Infant formula labels also carry a statement introduced by the words "important notice" or an equivalent. It states the superiority of breastfeeding and recommends that the product be used only on the advice of an independent professional qualified in medicine, nutrition or pharmacy, or another professional responsible for maternal and child care. EU law requires it, and it is a standard part of every compliant infant formula label.
Step 6: What You Will Not See
EU infant formula labels are mostly facts, not promises. Regulation (EU) 2016/127 states that nutrition and health claims shall not be made on infant formula, and the terms "humanised," "maternalised" and "adapted" are not allowed. The rules also limit two specific statements:
- "Lactose only" may be used only when lactose is the sole carbohydrate in the product.
- "Lactose free" may be used only when lactose is no more than 10 mg per 100 kcal. If the protein is not soy protein isolate, the label must also say the product is not suitable for infants with galactosaemia.
A formula label is not a substitute for medical guidance. If your baby has an allergy, a diagnosed condition or a specific feeding plan, check the ingredient list and the age line against your pediatrician's recommendation before you switch.
EU vs. US Formula Labels Side by Side
| Label element | EU pack | US pack |
|---|---|---|
| Legal name | Infant formula or follow-on formula (official wording in each EU language) | Infant formula (iron statement on the front panel) |
| Nutrition basis | Per 100 ml prepared; per 100 g powder optional | Per 100 kcal prepared, plus fluid ounces per 100 kcal |
| Prepared or powder? | Prepared with water per the manufacturer's instructions | Prepared in accordance with label directions for infant consumption |
The US row for iron comes from FDA labeling rules, which require "Infant Formula With Iron" on the front panel when a product has at least 1 mg of iron per 100 kilocalories. Neither label format is better or worse. They are two systems that present the same facts in different units, which is why reading the units first makes comparison easy.
Quick Label Checklist
- Find the legal name: infant formula or follow-on formula.
- Check the age line matches your baby's age and your pediatrician's advice.
- Read the ingredient list from the top: heaviest first, allergens emphasised.
- Read the nutrition table per 100 ml, and convert to per 100 kcal if you are comparing with a US label.
- Follow the preparation panel and the pack's own scoop every time.
- Check the best before date and the storage instructions. See our guide to checking baby formula expiration dates.
Reading the Label on the Brands Bonpek Carries
Bonpek Baby stocks European formula from HiPP, Holle, Jovie, Kendamil, NannyCare and Aptamil. Every product page lists the ingredients, the age range and the preparation details for that specific formula, so you can run the six steps above on the page before you order. Browse HiPP formulas, browse Holle formulas or browse Kendamil formulas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between infant formula and follow-on formula on a label?
Infant formula is the legal category for babies from birth when they are not breastfed. Follow-on formula is for babies over six months, as part of a diversified diet, and is not a breast milk substitute in the first six months. The legal name on the pack tells you which category it is.
What does Säuglingsanfangsnahrung mean?
It is the official German name for infant formula. Säuglingsmilchnahrung is the German name used when the protein comes entirely from cow's or goat's milk, and Folgenahrung and Folgemilch are the German names for follow-on formula.
Why are the nutrients per 100 ml on a European label?
EU rules require the energy value and nutrients of infant formula to be expressed per 100 ml of the formula ready for use. Many labels also show per 100 g of powder. US labels express nutrients per 100 kilocalories instead.
Do the stage numbers mean something legally?
No. PRE, 1, 2 and 3 are brand naming. The legal categories are infant formula and follow-on formula, and the age line on the pack states who each product is for.
Can a European formula label say it boosts immunity or brain development?
Not on infant formula. EU rules state that nutrition and health claims shall not be made on infant formula. The label shows the facts instead: the ingredients, the nutrition table and the preparation instructions.
Is a European formula label harder to read than a US label?
It uses different units and, on some packs, a different language, but the structure is the same every time. Once you know the six parts, you can read any compliant pack in a minute or two.
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