HiPP HA Stage 1 Hypoallergenic Formula

HiPP HA Stage 1 (Delivers the Science)

For babies born into families with a history of atopic disease eczema, hay fever, asthma, or food allergy in a parent or sibling every feed in the first six months of life is an opportunity. An opportunity to reduce the allergenic protein load that a genetically predisposed immune system must manage. An opportunity to cultivate the gut microbiome diversity that emerging research consistently identifies as one of the most protective factors against allergic disease development. An opportunity to support the immune system calibration that happens most plastically, most consequentially, and most irreversibly during the first year of life.

HiPP HA Stage 1 was built to capture every one of those opportunities simultaneously, from the very first feed, through every serve of the most nutritionally critical period of your baby's life.

It does this through three independent but synergistic mechanisms: partially hydrolyzed organic whey protein reducing the allergenic molecular weight of cow's milk proteins before they reach your baby's immune system, the Combiotic system of GOS prebiotics and L. fermentum probiotics cultivating the gut microbiome diversity that allergy protection depends on, and complete Stage 1 nutrition ensuring that allergy prevention never comes at the cost of nutritional completeness. All three are backed by the most robust published clinical evidence available in the infant formula category including the landmark GINI study that followed 2,000 plus participants for 15 years.

Produced by HiPP a 4th-generation German family company founded in 1899 and the world's largest processor of certified organic raw materials HA Stage 1 undergoes HiPP's exhaustive 260-point quality and safety protocol and carries EU Organic Certification the only certified organic hypoallergenic infant formula available to US families, combining clinical allergy prevention with the highest ingredient standards on the global formula market.

Understanding HiPP HA Stage 1 (Three Layers of Allergy Protection Explained)

Layer One: Partial Protein Hydrolysis - Reducing Allergenic Load From Birth

Cow's milk proteins primarily whey proteins and caseins are the most common food allergens in infancy. In a baby with a genetic predisposition to atopic disease, intact cow's milk proteins may be recognized by the developing immune system as foreign threats triggering inflammatory responses that manifest as eczema, colic, digestive distress, or respiratory symptoms depending on the type and severity of the immune response.

Protein hydrolysis pre-digests these proteins before they reach your baby enzymatically breaking intact protein chains into smaller peptide fragments that are significantly less likely to trigger immune recognition. At the partial hydrolysis level used in HiPP HA Stage 1, the protein fragments are small enough to dramatically reduce allergenic potential while remaining nutritionally complete delivering the full amino acid profile your baby needs for growth and development without the allergenic molecular architecture that drives immune sensitization in predisposed infants.

The clinical evidence for this intervention is among the most robust in pediatric nutrition science.

The GINI Study (15 Years of Evidence)

The GINI study (German Infant Nutritional Intervention) enrolled over 2,000 participants at elevated allergy risk and followed them for 15 years making it one of the largest and longest-running randomized controlled trials in infant nutrition research. The results were unambiguous: infants at elevated allergy risk fed partially hydrolyzed whey formula from birth showed statistically significant reductions in eczema incidence compared to those fed standard intact-protein formula and this protective effect was maintained at the 10-year and 15-year follow-up points.

Two clinical implications stand out from the GINI evidence for parents choosing HA Stage 1:

First the protective effect was cumulative with duration. Infants who received partially hydrolyzed formula through both the first and second halves of the first year showed greater sustained protective effect than those who transitioned to standard formula at 6 months. This supports continuing through HiPP HA Stage 2 to maximize the window of evidence-based protection.

Second feeding partially hydrolyzed formula from birth specifically from the Stage 1 introduction window was the protocol that produced the most statistically significant outcomes. The earlier the intervention, the greater the protective window.

Layer Two: Combiotic System (Gut Microbiome as Allergy Shield)

The relationship between early gut microbiome development and long-term allergy protection is one of the most robustly supported areas of current pediatric immunology research. Babies born into atopic families frequently show reduced diversity of gut microbiota compared to low-risk infants a difference that has been directly associated with increased allergy risk in multiple longitudinal studies. Reduced Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus abundance in the newborn gut has been specifically linked to greater eczema incidence, elevated allergic sensitization, and more severe atopic disease expression.

HiPP HA Stage 1 is one of the only formulas in the world to combine partial protein hydrolysis with a clinically studied prebiotic and probiotic system in a certified organic Stage 1 formulation. The GOS prebiotics selectively feed beneficial Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus populations cultivating the gut microbiome diversity most strongly associated with allergy protection. The L. fermentum probiotic isolated from human breast milk further supports the gut microbiota profile associated with breastfed, lower-allergy-risk infants. Together they address allergy risk at the microbiome level, running in parallel with the protein-level protection of hydrolysis two independent biological mechanisms working simultaneously from the first feed.

Layer Three: Complete Stage 1 Nutrition  (Protection Never Compromises Nutrition)

Every clinical benefit of HiPP HA Stage 1's allergy prevention approach is built on top of a nutritionally complete Stage 1 foundation. Iron calibrated for birth-to-6-month exclusive feeding. EU-mandated plant-based DHA supporting rapid brain and retinal development. Calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D3 for the fastest bone growth your child will ever experience. A complete vitamin and mineral complex verified against EU infant formula regulations for exclusive nutritional sufficiency from birth. Allergy prevention in HiPP HA Stage 1 is additive it delivers protection on top of complete nutrition, never instead of it.

What Makes HiPP HA Stage 1 Clinically Different

Partially Hydrolyzed Organic Whey Protein - GINI Study Evidence From Birth Organic whey protein enzymatically broken into smaller peptide fragments reducing allergenic molecular weight before it ever reaches your baby's immune system. The organic sourcing of the base whey protein ensures the highest quality starting material before hydrolysis a standard no conventional hypoallergenic formula in the US market achieves. The partial hydrolysis level is specifically the formulation studied in the GINI trial at the Stage 1 introduction window making HiPP HA Stage 1 the direct clinical translation of the GINI study's most evidence-based allergy prevention protocol into a ready-to-use formula.

Combiotic System in an HA Formula (Exceptionally Rare) Most hypoallergenic formulas prioritize protein hydrolysis and sacrifice probiotic and prebiotic inclusion either due to formulation complexity, manufacturing cost, or the incorrect assumption that hydrolysis alone is sufficient. HiPP retains the full Combiotic combination of GOS prebiotics and L. fermentum probiotics in HA Stage 1 simultaneously addressing allergy risk at the protein level and the gut microbiome level from birth. For allergy-prone newborns the population for whom gut microbiome quality is most clinically consequential — this combination is the most comprehensive protective nutritional strategy available in formula form.

EU Organic Certified (The Only Organic HA Stage 1 Formula Available in the USA) The combination of EU certified organic ingredients, partial protein hydrolysis, and the Combiotic prebiotic and probiotic system in a Stage 1 formula is unique to HiPP HA Stage 1. No American hypoallergenic formula and no competing European HA formula available in the US market combines all three simultaneously. The vast majority of hypoallergenic formulas available to US families are conventional not organic and none offer a Stage 1 hydrolyzed, Combiotic-containing formulation from an EU certified organic source.

No Corn Syrup (Organic Lactose Primary Carbohydrate) Despite being a specialized hypoallergenic formula, HiPP HA Stage 1 uses organic lactose as its primary carbohydrate. The gut microbiome benefits of organic lactose selectively feeding the beneficial bacteria that Combiotic is simultaneously cultivating are maintained even in the hypoallergenic formulation. Most US hypoallergenic formulas use corn syrup solids or glucose syrup as their primary carbohydrate, trading one digestive and microbiome concern for another. HiPP HA Stage 1 avoids this entirely.

260 Quality and Safety Checks Per Product HiPP's pharmaceutical-grade testing protocol applies to every batch of HA Stage 1 260 individual safety checks testing for over 1,200 substances before any formula is released. For a hypoallergenic formula where batch consistency of the hydrolysis process is critical protein fragment sizes must remain reliably within the hypoallergenic range across every tin this testing infrastructure is what makes HiPP HA Stage 1 dependable as an allergy prevention tool across every tin your baby consumes.

DHA and ARA - EU Mandated, Plant-Based, From Birth EU infant formula law mandates DHA in all infant formulas from birth a regulatory requirement exceeding current FDA standards. HiPP HA Stage 1 provides plant-based DHA and ARA from the first feed supporting the rapid brain and retinal development that begins at birth. Babies managed on HiPP HA Stage 1 for allergy prevention receive the same neurological nutritional support as any standard formula allergy management never compromises brain development nutrition.

GMO-Free - Verified Supply Chain EU organic certification prohibits GMOs across the entire supply chain. Every raw material contributing to HiPP HA Stage 1 from the organic whey protein used as the hydrolysis starting material to the organic vegetable oils to the lactose itself is verified GMO-free through HiPP's 260-point quality protocol. For families managing allergy risk while also prioritizing ingredient purity, this supply chain-level verification is the standard that matters most.

HiPP HA Stage 1 (Key Features at a Glance)

What's Inside: Key Ingredients Explained

Partially Hydrolyzed Organic Whey Protein The foundational protective ingredient. Organic whey protein sourced from EU certified organic dairy is enzymatically processed into smaller peptide fragments before it ever reaches your baby. This hydrolysis reduces the molecular weight of the proteins to a range significantly less likely to trigger immune recognition in allergy-prone babies. The partial hydrolysis level is calibrated for the allergy prevention and mild sensitivity management population studied in the GINI trial and the organic sourcing ensures the cleanest possible base protein before hydrolysis begins, a standard no conventional hypoallergenic formula can match.

Organic Lactose The primary carbohydrate the dominant natural sugar in breast milk and the carbohydrate the newborn digestive system is biologically calibrated to process most efficiently from birth. Organic lactose selectively feeds Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus working synergistically with the GOS prebiotic and L. fermentum probiotic in the Combiotic system to cultivate the beneficial gut microbiota most strongly associated with allergy protection. For an allergy-prone baby where gut microbiome quality is most clinically consequential, the lactose primary carbohydrate combined with Combiotic provides the most comprehensive gut-level allergy protection available in any formula.

Organic Starch A measured addition that provides longer-lasting satiety between feeds compared to PRE-stage lactose-only formula supporting more predictable feeding intervals for babies whose appetite and feeding schedule benefit from the extended satiety that starch digestion provides. At birth through 6 months, starch digestion is developmentally appropriate and well tolerated in the quantities used in Stage 1 formula.

GOS (Galacto-Oligosaccharides) HiPP's prebiotic fiber structurally analogous to the HMOs in breast milk. For allergy-prone babies where gut microbiome diversity at birth is most clinically consequential for long-term allergy risk GOS supplementation from the first feed selectively cultivates the Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus populations most strongly associated with allergy protection. The presence of GOS in a hypoallergenic formula is a clinical distinction that most HA formulas do not provide HiPP HA Stage 1 addresses allergy risk from both the protein and microbiome directions simultaneously.

L. fermentum (Lactobacillus fermentum) Originally isolated from human breast milk making it one of the most biologically compatible probiotic strains used in any formula globally. Colicky, atopic-risk infants frequently show reduced Lactobacillus populations compared to low-risk controls and L. fermentum supplementation from the first feed begins supporting the microbial diversity that allergy protection depends on from the moment the gut microbiome is first being established. Combined with GOS prebiotics in the Combiotic system, L. fermentum delivers microbiome-level allergy protection that works synergistically with the protein-level protection of hydrolysis.

Organic Vegetable Oils A carefully calibrated organic fat complex delivering the essential Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids critical for brain development, nerve myelination, and fat-soluble vitamin absorption in the first months of life without palm oil's potential contribution to harder stools and reduced calcium absorption that is counterproductive in a baby already under nutritional management.

DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) Plant-based DHA EU mandated in all infant formulas providing the critical Omega-3 for brain and retinal development from birth. EU law mandates DHA inclusion in infant formula a requirement that exceeds current FDA standards. Every feed of HiPP HA Stage 1 delivers clinically relevant DHA from day one, regardless of the hypoallergenic protein management the formula is simultaneously providing.

ARA (Arachidonic Acid) The essential Omega-6 counterpart to DHA required by EU infant formula regulations. ARA works alongside DHA building the structural components of brain cell membranes and supporting the early immune system development that runs in parallel with the allergy protection HiPP HA Stage 1 is designed to provide  a particularly meaningful convergence for allergy-prone babies.

Iron, Calcium, Phosphorus and Vitamin D3 The developmental triad calibrated for the complete nutritional demands of a birth-to-6-month baby receiving formula as their primary or sole nutrition source. Vitamin D3 ensures calcium absorption is optimized regardless of geographic location, season, or sun exposure removing one nutritional variable from a feeding situation that is already carefully managed.

Complete Birth-to-6-Month Vitamin and Mineral Complex Vitamins A, C, D3, E, K1, B1, B2, B6, B12, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Folic Acid alongside Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Selenium, Potassium, and Iodine verified against EU infant formula regulations for complete exclusive nutrition from birth. An allergy-prone baby on HiPP HA Stage 1 receives complete nutritional coverage with zero compromise on any essential micronutrient alongside every protective feature the formula provides.

How to Prepare HiPP HA Stage 1

Step 1: Sterilize All Equipment: Sterilize all bottles, teats, caps, and preparation equipment before every feed. For allergy-prone newborns under active nutritional management where any additional variable can complicate clinical assessment sterilization is non-negotiable and should be maintained rigorously through the full first year.

Step 2: Boil Fresh Water: Use fresh, cold drinking water only never previously boiled, stored, or softened water. Bring to a full rolling boil, then allow to cool to approximately 50°C (122°F) hot enough to address any potential bacterial contamination in the powder while cool enough to preserve heat-sensitive vitamins and the live L. fermentum probiotic culture.

Step 3: Water Into Bottle First: Pour the exact required amount of cooled boiled water into the sterilized bottle before adding any powder always water before powder without exception. This ensures accurate concentration, prevents powder clumping, and guarantees consistent feed strength.

Step 4: Measure With Precision: Using only the measuring scoop enclosed in the tin, add the exact number of level scoops specified for your baby's age and weight. Level each scoop meticulously with the back of a clean, dry knife never heap, pack, compress, or estimate. Measurement accuracy in hypoallergenic formula is especially critical concentration consistency directly affects both nutritional adequacy and tolerability in allergy-managed babies.

Step 5: Mix Gently: Cap the bottle and gently swirl or stir until completely and evenly dissolved. Avoid vigorous shaking this introduces excess air into the formula, increasing gas and digestive discomfort that can be misread as formula intolerance in allergy-managed babies, leading to unnecessary formula changes.

Step 6: Temperature Check: Test temperature on the inside of your wrist before every feed. The formula should feel neither warm nor cool approximately body temperature (37°C / 98.6°F) is ideal for newborns.

Always prepare feeds fresh immediately before feeding. For newborns under 3 months — and especially for allergy-prone newborns under active immune management do not store prepared formula at room temperature for more than 1 hour. Refrigerated prepared formula must be used within 24 hours and gently rewarmed never microwaved, which creates dangerous hot spots and may damage the live probiotic culture. Never reheat a second time. Discard any formula remaining after a feed without exception.

Feeding Guide (General Reference Always Follow Package Label)

Always feed on demand appetite varies significantly between individual babies and between feeds. Never restrict a hungry baby or force a complete feed. For allergy-prone babies under active management, always follow your pediatrician's or allergist's guidance on feeding frequency and volume. If introducing gradually when transitioning from another formula, begin with approximately 25% HA Stage 1 mixed with 75% existing formula, increasing the proportion daily over 5 to 7 days.

Storage Instructions

Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and humidity. Do not refrigerate opened or unopened tins moisture condensation inside the tin can compromise powder quality and damage the live L. fermentum probiotic culture. Once opened, seal the lid firmly and use within 3 weeks. Never use beyond the printed best-before date. Do not transfer powder to a different container.

Is HiPP HA Stage 1 Right for Your Baby?

HiPP HA Stage 1 is clinically appropriate and the right choice if your baby:

• Has one or both parents with a diagnosed atopic condition eczema, hay fever, asthma, or food allergy placing them at elevated allergy risk
• Has a sibling with diagnosed atopic disease increasing familial allergy risk
• Your pediatrician or allergist has recommended partially hydrolyzed formula from birth as a preventive measure
• You want EU certified organic ingredients alongside hypoallergenic protein management a combination completely absent from the US formula market
• You want the most comprehensive protective formula strategy available partial hydrolysis, Combiotic prebiotic and probiotic support delivered simultaneously from birth
• Your baby is showing early signs of digestive sensitivity in the first weeks of life and you want the gentlest, most protective formula available while assessment is underway
• You are combination feeding and want a hypoallergenic formula whose Combiotic biology works alongside rather than against the gut microbiome that breastfeeding is establishing
• You want GINI study-backed evidence at the specific hydrolysis level and introduction window studied not simply a formula that claims to be hypoallergenic without clinical substantiation

Critical Clinical Note: HiPP HA Stage 1 is a partially hydrolyzed formula clinically appropriate for allergy prevention and mild sensitivity management, but NOT appropriate for babies with confirmed cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA). Confirmed CMPA requires extensively hydrolyzed formula (eHF) or amino acid-based formula (AAF) as prescribed by an allergist or pediatrician. If your baby has shown severe allergic reactions including anaphylaxis, blood in stool, significant failure to thrive, or severe respiratory symptoms consult your healthcare provider immediately before selecting any formula.

HiPP HA Stage 1 vs. HiPP HA PRE (Choosing the Right Starting Point)

The bottom line for allergy-prone babies: For the very youngest newborns and combination-fed babies where maximum breast milk carbohydrate alignment is the priority start with HiPP HA PRE. Transition to HiPP HA Stage 1 when hunger cues between feeds consistently suggest the longer satiety of starch would be beneficial typically between 6 and 12 weeks for exclusively formula-fed babies. Both provide identical hypoallergenic protein protection and the full Combiotic system. Continuing the HA range through Stage 2 maximizes the cumulative GINI study protective effect.

HiPP HA Stage 1 vs. US Hypoallergenic Formulas (The Direct Comparison)

The comparison clarifies an important clinical distinction: Similac Alimentum and Enfamil Nutramigen are extensively hydrolyzed formulas designed for confirmed CMPA — a different clinical population from the allergy prevention and mild sensitivity management population that HiPP HA Stage 1 is designed for. For allergy prevention in at-risk infants, HiPP HA Stage 1's partially hydrolyzed formulation with Combiotic support and EU organic certification has no equivalent in the US market.

Frequently Asked Questions (HiPP HA Stage 1)

Q: What makes HiPP HA Stage 1 different from standard HiPP Combiotic Stage 1?

The defining difference is the protein type. Standard HiPP Combiotic Stage 1 uses intact organic whey and skim milk protein appropriate for babies with no allergy risk. HiPP HA Stage 1 uses the same organic whey protein enzymatically hydrolyzed into smaller peptide fragments significantly reducing allergenic potential for at-risk babies. Both formulas carry EU organic certification, feature the full Combiotic system of GOS prebiotics and L. fermentum probiotics, and share the same carbohydrate profile of organic lactose and organic starch. The HA designation specifically indicates the partially hydrolyzed protein for allergy prevention.

Q: Can HiPP HA Stage 1 be used as the only formula from birth?

Yes. HiPP HA Stage 1 is nutritionally complete and suitable as the sole source of nutrition from birth through 6 months. It meets all EU infant formula regulations for exclusive feeding and provides every vitamin, mineral, and macronutrient a newborn requires. It can be used as a complete breast milk substitute or alongside breastfeeding from day one.

Q: What is the GINI study and why does it matter for HiPP HA Stage 1?

The GINI study German Infant Nutritional Intervention is a landmark randomized controlled trial enrolling 2,000 plus participants at elevated allergy risk, with follow-up extending to 15 years. It is the most comprehensive published evidence available for hypoallergenic formula and allergy prevention. The study demonstrated statistically significant reductions in eczema incidence at 15-year follow-up in infants fed partially hydrolyzed whey formula from birth the specific hydrolysis level and introduction window used in HiPP HA Stage 1. No competing hypoallergenic formula available to US families has equivalent published long-term clinical evidence behind its formulation.

Q: When should I transition from HiPP HA Stage 1 to HiPP HA Stage 2?

The transition to HiPP HA Stage 2 is recommended at 6 months coinciding with the introduction of solid foods and the beginning of iron store depletion. Stage 2 features significantly elevated iron calibrated for the 6-month developmental milestone, and continuing the HA range through Stage 2 maximizes the cumulative protective effect evidenced in the GINI study's follow-up data. Transitioning from HA Stage 1 to standard Stage 2 at 6 months forfeits the accumulated protective effect of continued partial hydrolysis through the full first year.

Q: Is HiPP HA Stage 1 suitable for babies with confirmed cow's milk protein allergy?

No. HiPP HA Stage 1 is a partially hydrolyzed formula appropriate for allergy prevention and mild sensitivity management in at-risk infants, not for confirmed CMPA. Babies with confirmed cow's milk protein allergy require extensively hydrolyzed formula or amino acid-based formula as prescribed by their allergist or pediatrician. If your baby has shown severe allergic reactions, blood in stool, or significant failure to thrive, consult your healthcare provider before selecting any formula.

Q: Does HiPP HA Stage 1 contain the full Combiotic system?

Yes the complete Combiotic combination of GOS prebiotics and L. fermentum probiotics is included in HiPP HA Stage 1 at full potency. For allergy-prone babies the population for whom early gut microbiome diversity is most clinically consequential for long-term allergy risk this makes HiPP HA Stage 1 uniquely comprehensive: partial hydrolysis protecting at the protein level, Combiotic protecting at the gut microbiome level, simultaneously from birth. Most competing hypoallergenic formulas do not include a prebiotic and probiotic system alongside hydrolyzed protein.

Q: Is HiPP HA Stage 1 certified organic?

Yes, fully EU certified organic. Every ingredient meets EU Regulation 2018/848 prohibiting GMOs, synthetic pesticides, growth hormones, antibiotics, and all synthetic additives throughout the supply chain. The combination of EU organic certification, partial protein hydrolysis, and the Combiotic prebiotic and probiotic system in a Stage 1 formula is unique to HiPP HA Stage 1 completely without equivalent in the United States formula market.

Q: How quickly will my order arrive in the USA?

We ship from US-based inventory. Orders placed before 2 PM EST typically ship the same business day and arrive within 1 to 3 business days anywhere in the contiguous United States with free express shipping on every order, no minimum purchase required.