Kendamil is a well-regarded infant formula that stands out from most competitors in a few meaningful ways: it uses whole milk as its first ingredient, skips palm oil and fish oil, and includes naturally occurring milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), a component found in breast milk. It’s fully registered with the FDA and available in three varieties on the US market. Whether it’s the right fit for your baby depends on what you’re prioritizing, so here’s what you need to know.
What Makes Kendamil Different
The biggest distinction is the whole milk base. Most infant formulas in the US start with skim milk or nonfat milk and then add vegetable oils to supply fat. Kendamil flips that approach by using whole milk from grass-fed cows, which brings natural dairy fat into the formula. This means the recipe relies on less vegetable oil overall and delivers a fat profile closer to what you’d find in breast milk.
That whole milk base also means Kendamil contains naturally present MFGM. This is a membrane that surrounds fat droplets in mammalian milk, and it’s packed with proteins and fats that play a role in brain development and gut health. In many other formulas, MFGM is stripped away during processing and sometimes added back in separately. Kendamil keeps it intact by starting with whole milk in the first place.
Kendamil also uses plant-based DHA sourced from microalgae rather than fish oil. This makes the formula fish oil-free and technically vegetarian-friendly. Parents frequently mention that the absence of fish oil gives Kendamil a milder, more pleasant smell. Multiple reviews describe it as smelling “like rice pudding” rather than the fishy odor some other brands carry.
No Palm Oil: Why That Matters for Digestion
Kendamil excludes palm oil entirely from its recipes. This is more than a marketing choice. Studies suggest that palm oil in infant formula can interfere with a baby’s ability to absorb both fats and calcium. Other research has linked palm oil in formula to harder stools and constipation in some infants. By leaving it out, Kendamil may reduce the likelihood of these digestive issues, though every baby responds differently.
The primary carbohydrate in Kendamil is lactose, which mirrors breast milk’s natural sugar. Some popular US formulas, particularly those marketed for fussiness or gas, substitute corn syrup solids for some or all of the lactose. Lactose is generally considered gentler on digestion and doesn’t cause the blood sugar fluctuations that corn syrup solids can.
Classic, Organic, and Goat: Three Options
Kendamil sells three product lines in the US, all registered with the FDA as non-exempt infant formulas:
- Kendamil Classic uses whole milk from grass-fed cows, includes HMOs and naturally present MFGM, and is the most affordable of the three.
- Kendamil Organic follows the same whole-milk approach but uses certified organic ingredients. It contains the same MFGM and HMO (specifically 3′-GL) blend and plant-based DHA from algal oil.
- Kendamil Goat is a goat milk-based formula for parents who want an alternative to cow’s milk protein. It’s not appropriate for babies with a confirmed cow’s milk protein allergy, since goat and cow milk proteins are structurally similar.
All three lines are manufactured in England using milk from Red Tractor-accredited farms, a British certification that covers animal welfare, food safety, and environmental standards. Kendamil is the only British-made infant formula, and all products sold in the US meet FDA requirements for nutritional adequacy and safety.
How It Compares to Major US Brands
The most noticeable difference between Kendamil and brands like Enfamil or Similac is the fat source. Enfamil and Similac typically build their fat content entirely from vegetable oils (often including palm oil). Kendamil gets a significant portion of its fat from whole milk, supplementing with rapeseed oil and sunflower oil alongside the algal DHA oil.
Iron levels also differ depending on which version you buy. The UK-formulated Kendamil stages have lower iron in Stage 1 (around 0.5 to 0.7 mg per 100 ml) compared to US formulas like Enfamil, which typically contain about 1.8 mg per 100 ml. The US versions of Kendamil are formulated to meet FDA iron requirements, so if you’re buying from a US retailer, the iron content will align with American standards. This is worth checking on the label if you’re importing a UK version directly.
On carbohydrates, Kendamil uses lactose exclusively, while some Enfamil varieties (like Gentlease) rely partly on corn syrup solids. For protein, both brands use milk-based protein, but Kendamil’s comes from whole milk rather than nonfat milk with added whey.
How to Prepare It
Kendamil is a powder formula that mixes with water. The recommended process: boil fresh water, let it cool to roughly 40 to 50°C (about 104 to 122°F), then add the correct number of level scoops (each scoop is 4.3 grams). Shake until fully dissolved, then cool the bottle under running water to body temperature, around 37°C or 98°F, before feeding. Any formula left unfinished should be thrown away within one hour.
One practical note: don’t microwave water inside the bottle, as this creates uneven hot spots. Instead, heat the water first and then pour it into the bottle before adding powder.
What Parents Report
Parent reviews consistently highlight a few themes. Babies who were fussy or gassy on other brands often tolerate Kendamil well, particularly when the switch is away from a formula containing fish oil or palm oil. The taste and smell get positive marks from parents, with many noting their babies accepted it easily. The whole milk base gives it a naturally creamy consistency that some parents feel their babies prefer.
The most common complaints tend to center on price (Kendamil costs more per ounce than store-brand or mainstream US formulas) and occasional availability gaps, since it’s imported. If cost is a major factor, it’s worth noting that the Classic line is less expensive than the Organic, while still sharing the core whole-milk, palm oil-free, fish oil-free profile.
Potential Drawbacks to Consider
Kendamil is not a hypoallergenic formula. If your baby has a diagnosed cow’s milk protein allergy, none of the three Kendamil lines (including goat) are appropriate. You’d need a formula with extensively hydrolyzed or amino acid-based protein instead.
The whole milk base, while nutritionally appealing, does mean the formula contains more saturated fat from dairy compared to formulas built entirely on vegetable oils. This isn’t a health concern for infants, since babies need a high-fat diet for brain development, but it’s a distinction worth understanding.
Finally, because Kendamil is made in England and shipped internationally, supply can occasionally be less consistent than domestically produced options. If you plan to use it as your primary formula, having a backup plan or keeping extra cans on hand is a practical move.