⚠ Important: Loulouka is discontinued (2024)
Loulouka production was paused in 2024 with no announced resumption date. US-facing resellers including Organic's Best and My Organic Formula have confirmed Loulouka is no longer restocking. Remaining inventory continues to sell but without replenishment. Families currently on Loulouka should plan a transition now; waiting until stock runs out leaves no buffer for gradual switching.
Recommended replacements:
- HiPP Dutch Stage 1. EU Organic and Combiotik (probiotic and GOS) + Metafolin. Adds bioactives Loulouka didn't have; accepts palm oil.
- Kendamil Organic Stage 1, the closest palm-free replacement. EU Organic, UK Soil Association, whole-milk fat, and no palm oil.
The comparison below documents Loulouka's composition for context before transition, explains the Loulouka-to-HiPP switch path specifically, and flags Kendamil Organic for families where palm-free is the priority that drove them to Loulouka in the first place.
HiPP Dutch Stage 1 (still available) is EU Organic and Combiotik (L. fermentum probiotic and GOS prebiotic) and Metafolin folate, palm- inclusive, ~$1.77/oz. Loulouka Stage 1 (discontinued 2024) was Swiss Bio and EU Organic with palm-free vegetable oil blend, GOS prebiotic, no probiotic, folic acid, large 900g tin, ~$1.45/oz. Families losing Loulouka access should switch to HiPP Dutch (for bioactive depth) or Kendamil Organic (for palm-free continuity).
Why this comparison matters (even with Loulouka discontinued)
Loulouka has a significant US parent community, it was one of the lowest-priced EU organic Stage 1 options with a distinctive palm-free fat blend. Parents who chose Loulouka specifically often prioritized palm-free composition and Swiss manufacturing. The switch to HiPP Dutch isn't a like-for-like replacement (HiPP has palm); for those families, Kendamil Organic is the closer functional match. This comparison documents both options so parents can choose their replacement informed.
At a glance
| Dimension | HiPP Dutch Stage 1 | Loulouka Stage 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Active | Discontinued 2024, stock selling out |
| Manufacturer | HiPP (Germany, Dutch-market SKU) | Loulouka (Switzerland) |
| Age range | 0-6 months | 0-6 months |
| Regulation | EU 2016/127 and 2018/848 organic | EU 2016/127 and 2018/848 organic and Swiss Bio |
| Organic certification | EU Organic (SKAL) | EU Organic and Swiss Bio |
| Protein | Skimmed cow milk and whey | Skimmed cow milk and whey |
| Whey:casein | 60:40 | 60:40 |
| Primary carbohydrate | Lactose (only added) | Lactose (only added) |
| Prebiotic | GOS | GOS |
| Probiotic | L. fermentum hereditum (Combiotik) | None |
| Folate form | Metafolin (L-methylfolate) | Folic acid |
| DHA source | Fish oil, ~13.2 mg/100 ml | Fish oil, ~14 mg/100 ml |
| Fat blend | Palm, rapeseed, sunflower | Coconut, rapeseed, sunflower (NO palm) |
| Fat-blend notes | Palm oil | None |
| Tin size | 800 g metal tin | 900 g metal tin (one of largest formats) |
| Typical price | ||
| US availability | Organic's Best, 5-10 day shipping | Remaining stock only, verify directly |
Visual generated with Napkin AI, editorial review by María López Botín. See methodology for our use policy.
Why Loulouka was a distinctive option
Loulouka's composition was unusual in the EU organic field:
- Swiss Bio and EU Organic certification: Swiss Bio is the Swiss national organic standard, approximately equivalent to EU Organic in rigor with some stricter Swiss-specific animal welfare minimums.
- Palm-free fat blend, coconut, rapeseed, sunflower only. Unusual among EU organic Stage 1 formulas, most of which include palm.
- 900g tin, one of the largest format options in EU organic, improving per-ounce economics.
- GOS prebiotic, matching HiPP's prebiotic, though without a probiotic.
- Low per-ounce price (~$1.45/oz) for a palm-free Swiss-origin organic product.
For palm-avoidant families, Loulouka was one of a small set of options (along with Kendamil Organic, Kendamil Classic, and Bobbie Original). Losing Loulouka narrows that shortlist meaningfully.
Compositional differences that actually matter
1. Fat blend: palm-inclusive vs palm-free
HiPP Dutch uses palm, rapeseed, and sunflower (organic palm oil). Loulouka used coconut, rapeseed, and sunflower, no palm. For palm-avoidant families, this was Loulouka's defining feature.
For ongoing palm-free EU organic, Kendamil Organic (whole-milk fat base) is now the primary alternative on the EU market. Bobbie Original (USDA Organic, US domestic) is the US-market palm-free alternative. See the palm oil explainer.
2. Bioactive stack: Combiotik vs GOS-only
HiPP Dutch: GOS and L. fermentum live probiotic (Combiotik). Loulouka had GOS only, no probiotic. HiPP wins on bioactive depth. See GOS explainer.
3. Folate form: Metafolin vs folic acid
HiPP: Metafolin (bioactive). Loulouka: folic acid (synthetic, requires MTHFR conversion). See Metafolin vs folic acid.
4. Certification layering
Loulouka layered Swiss Bio on top of EU Organic. HiPP carries EU Organic via SKAL. Swiss Bio is broadly equivalent to EU Organic with some stricter Swiss-specific welfare minimums (closer to organic baseline than to Bioland or Demeter).
5. Price per ounce
Loulouka (while in stock) ~$1.45/oz, the lowest per-ounce palm-free EU organic. HiPP Dutch ~$1.77/oz. Once Loulouka is fully out of stock, the lowest palm-free EU organic will be Kendamil Organic at ~$1.95/oz — a material price floor shift for palm-avoidant families.
6. DHA level
Loulouka ~14 mg DHA / 100 ml; HiPP ~13.2 mg. Both fish oil, both above EU minimum. Comparable in practical terms.
7. Format
Loulouka's 900g tin was among the largest EU organic Stage 1 formats — ~12.5% more product per tin than HiPP's 800g. Fewer repurchases per week.
Regulatory framework
Both comply with EU Regulation 2016/127 and EU Regulation 2018/848 (organic). Loulouka additionally carried Swiss Bio (Knospe). Neither is FDA-registered; families import under FDA enforcement discretion. See the buying European formula pillar.
Loulouka's discontinuation does not relate to any compliance or recall event, it reflects commercial decisions by the manufacturer. Remaining Loulouka stock in the US import channel is EU-compliant and safe; it simply isn't being replenished.
Real-world parent experience
Following site methodology, the observations below come from my personal use across both kids plus a stable pool of parent-feedback notes from families on both formulas. They carry the parent-experience label rather than being claimed as regulatory or clinical facts, because individual infant variation on stool consistency, smell preference, and mixability is large enough that any specific point can reverse for a specific baby. Read these as context, not prediction.
Smell and taste. Loulouka had a very neutral, clean dairy character — closer to the HiPP profile than to the Holle-family cereal-drier profile. HiPP Dutch is similarly neutral with slightly more sweetness. Transitioning from Loulouka to HiPP is usually a smooth taste shift.
Stool consistency. Loulouka's palm-free blend tended to produce softer stools; HiPP's palm-inclusive blend often produces moderately firmer stools. The HiPP Combiotik probiotic shifts stools back toward yogurt-like consistency for many infants. Net effect in transition: variable for 7-14 days.
Transitioning off Loulouka. Use a extended 7-10 day gradual transition rather than the standard 4-6 day protocol. Two simultaneous changes — palm-free → palm-inclusive, and no-probiotic → probiotic, can produce stool-character shifts that pass faster with slower ramp.
Verdict: when to pick each
Pick HiPP Dutch Stage 1 (recommended replacement if palm-free wasn't the binding constraint on Loulouka):
- Bioactive depth (Combiotik and Metafolin) is attractive
- Palm oil inclusion is acceptable
- Active supply and wide US import availability matter
Pick Kendamil Organic Stage 1 (recommended replacement if palm-free was the binding constraint on Loulouka):
- Palm-free composition is required
- EU Organic and whole-milk fat resonates
- Higher DHA (~16.1 mg/100 ml) is a bonus
Pick Loulouka (only while remaining stock lasts):
- You have an infant adapted well to Loulouka and want to continue until stock runs out, with a defined switch plan in place
- You verify remaining inventory directly with the reseller before ordering
- You understand no long-term continuity is possible
What you can't infer from this comparison
Loulouka's discontinuation isn't a safety event, no recall, no compliance issue, no composition problem. The formula remains safe while stock lasts. However, planning a transition before stock disappears is important, emergency switches under time pressure are harder than planned switches. Consult your pediatrician if your infant has specific sensitivities or transition concerns.
Frequently asked questions
Why was Loulouka discontinued?
What's the closest replacement for Loulouka?
Is remaining Loulouka stock safe to use?
When will Loulouka stock run out?
Can I switch from Loulouka to HiPP Dutch?
Does HiPP Dutch have palm oil?
What is Swiss Bio?
Related reading
- HiPP brand hub
- Loulouka brand hub, including discontinuation timeline
- Bobbie Original vs Loulouka Stage 1, the US-domestic palm-free alternative
- HiPP Dutch Stage 1 vs Kendamil Organic Stage 1, the EU Organic and palm-free SKU
- Lebenswert Stage 1 vs Loulouka Stage 1, lower-price EU organic options (coming soon)
- Palm oil explainer
- Switching between formula brands
- Loulouka Stage 1 vs Similac Pro-Advance - Swiss EU Organic No-Palm No-Soy vs US 2'-FL HMO Mainstream
Primary sources
- HiPP, manufacturer product information. hipp.com
- Loulouka, manufacturer product information (production discontinued 2024). loulouka.com
- Bio Suisse: Swiss organic certification standards. bio-suisse.ch
- EU Regulation 2016/127, infant formula compositional requirements. eur-lex.europa.eu
- EU Regulation 2018/848, organic production. eur-lex.europa.eu
- EFSA Scientific Opinion on compositional requirements for infant formula. efsa.europa.eu
This site provides research and comparisons, not medical advice. Consult your pediatrician before changing your baby's formula.