Earth's Best has been making organic baby and kids food since 1985 - one of the original organic baby food brands. Their Sesame Street licensed products combine organic ingredients with packaging that appeals to kids. But does licensed packaging indicate any compromises?
The Earth's Best Heritage
Earth's Best pioneered organic baby food before it was mainstream. Now owned by Hain Celestial (parent of many natural brands), they maintain USDA Organic certification across products.
The Sesame Street licensing partnership adds cost (licensing fees) but helps kids connect with characters they love. Whether that's valuable or just marketing depends on your perspective.
Ingredient Analysis
Sesame Street Snack Bars contain:
- Organic oat flour
- Organic rice syrup
- Organic cane sugar
- Organic apple juice concentrate
- Organic whole oat flour
- Organic fruit puree
- Natural flavor
- Vitamins and minerals
Three sweeteners (rice syrup, cane sugar, apple juice concentrate) plus "natural flavor" - this is an organic product designed for taste appeal rather than minimal processing.
Nutritional Profile
Per bar:
- Calories: 100
- Protein: 1g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 8g
- Some fortification (varies by flavor)
Eight grams of sugar per bar is on the higher end - matching or exceeding conventional alternatives. The triple-sweetener approach explains why.
The Licensed Packaging Trade-Off
Sesame Street characters attract kids, but licensing costs get built into the product price. You're partly paying for Elmo's face, not just ingredients.
For some families, the character appeal helps picky eaters accept new foods. For others, it's marketing expense with no nutritional value.
Comparison to Alternatives
Sugar comparison (per bar):
- Earth's Best: 8g
- Plum Organics: 7g
- MadeGood: 5g
- Once Upon a Farm: 3g
Earth's Best has the highest sugar content among organic kids bars I've reviewed. The organic certification doesn't offset this for sugar-conscious families.
Price comparison:
- Earth's Best: ~$0.90/bar
- MadeGood: ~$0.72/bar
- Plum Organics: ~$1.00/bar
Pricing is mid-range - you can find better value with MadeGood.
Quality and Availability
Earth's Best is widely available:
- Most grocery stores
- Target, Walmart
- Amazon
- Natural food stores
Quality is consistent - these are established products from a mature brand.
The "Natural Flavor" Question
"Natural flavor" in organic products always gives me pause. Organic certification doesn't regulate what "natural flavor" means - it could be organic-compliant flavor compounds designed for taste appeal.
Why does an organic fruit bar need added flavor? The same reason as non-organic: to compete with sweeter options.
Who Should Buy This
Families whose kids are motivated by Sesame Street characters. Parents prioritizing organic certification as the primary criterion. Those who are less focused on sugar content.
Who Should Skip This
Families watching sugar intake - 8g is significant. Those seeking best value - MadeGood is cheaper and cleaner. Parents who prefer products without licensed character marketing.
The Verdict
Earth's Best Organic Sesame Street Bars deliver organic certification in kid-appealing packaging. But the 8g sugar, triple sweeteners, and "natural flavor" reveal a product optimized for taste over nutrition. If organic certification is your sole criterion, these work. If you also care about sugar content, better options exist at every price point.
