Materna is Israel's most trusted baby formula brand. Complete guide to Materna Extra Care Stage 1, Stage 2, Non-Dairy (soy), and Vanilla Porridge — with kosher certification and direct shipping from Israel to the USA. Shop at KosherTop.

Why Israeli Parents in the USA Search for Materna

Every year, thousands of Israeli families move to the United States. They arrive with their language, their culture, their food preferences — and their babies.

Their babies were born on Materna.

Materna (מאטרנה) has been Israel's most trusted baby formula brand for decades. Walk into any Israeli pharmacy, any Israeli supermarket, any Israeli baby supply store — Materna is on the shelf in the most prominent position. It is what Israeli pediatricians recommend. It is what Israeli hospitals stock. It is what Israeli grandmothers insist on.

And then the family moves to Los Angeles, or New York, or Chicago — and Materna is nowhere.

American baby formula aisles carry Similac, Enfamil, Gerber, Earth's Best. These are good products. But they are not the formula your baby started on. Your baby is used to a specific flavor profile, a specific nutritional composition, a specific texture. Switching formula in the first year of life is not something to take lightly — every pediatrician will tell you this.

The solution that more and more Israeli families in the USA have found: order Materna directly from Israel. From KosherTop, Materna ships from Israel to any US address in 7-14 business days — the same product, from the same manufacturer, that's on Israeli pharmacy shelves today.

What Is Materna? A Brief History

Materna is manufactured by Strauss Nutrition (מטרנה, פתרונות תזונה לתינוק) — part of the Strauss Group, one of Israel's largest food companies. The same Strauss that makes Elite chocolate and Krembo also makes Israel's leading baby formula.

Materna has been the market leader in Israeli infant nutrition for many years, with a reputation built on:

• Rigorous Israeli government oversight — formula sold in Israel is regulated by the Israeli Ministry of Health under standards that align with European and international guidelines
• Continuous formula development — Materna was the first Israeli formula to incorporate probiotics across all stages of the dairy series, and was an early adopter of beta-palmitate oil (OPO) for improved fat absorption
• Kosher certification — all Materna products carry kosher certification appropriate to their dairy or non-dairy status
• Wide stage range — covering birth through toddlerhood, with specialized options for dietary restrictions

Understanding Materna's Stages

Israeli baby formula stages don't map exactly onto American stages. Here's how to understand them:

The Extra Care designation is important: it represents Materna's premium formulation, the one most commonly recommended by Israeli pediatricians for standard healthy infants. The probiotics included in Extra Care — B. Lactis — are the same probiotic strain used across all stages of the dairy series, a feature Materna describes as unique in the Israeli market.

What Makes Materna Extra Care Different

Materna's Extra Care formula includes several features that set it apart from standard infant formula:

Probiotics in every stage: B. Lactis probiotics are included in Stages 1, 2, and 3 of the Extra Care dairy series. Probiotics support the development of the infant gut microbiome — the community of bacteria in the digestive system that plays a role in immune function, digestion, and long-term health. Materna claims to be the only Israeli formula brand with probiotics across all stages of a dairy series.

Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids (DHA and ARA): Both are included in the Extra Care formula to support cognitive development and visual acuity. DHA (a type of omega-3) has been associated with brain development in infants, and both fatty acids are naturally present in breast milk.

Beta-Palmitate (OPO) oil in Stage 1: Beta-Palmitate is a specific form of palm oil where the fatty acid is positioned differently from standard palm oil, making it structurally similar to the fat in breast milk. Research suggests it improves fat and calcium absorption in infants compared to standard palm oil, and may reduce constipation. It is included in Materna Extra Care Stage 1 — the critical early months when digestive comfort is paramount.

Iron: Adequate iron levels for brain development, included at stage-appropriate concentrations.

Mehadrin kosher certification: The Materna Extra Care dairy series carries Mehadrin kosher certification — a level of kosher supervision above the standard Chief Rabbinate certification, important for families keeping strictly kosher.

Materna vs. American Formula: What Parents Need to Know

The most common question from Israeli parents in the USA: "Can I switch my baby from Materna to an American formula?"

The medically safe answer: Yes, in most cases, if the transition is gradual and the baby tolerates it. Formula switching in the first year of life is generally manageable when done slowly — mixing old and new formula over 1-2 weeks.

The practical answer: Many Israeli babies don't accept American formula easily, particularly when the switch happens after several months on Materna. The flavor profile, the texture when prepared, and the specific formula composition are all different enough that some infants refuse the new formula or experience digestive disturbances.

The emotional answer: For many Israeli parents, continuing their baby on Materna is not just about nutrition — it is about continuity, familiarity, and the comfort of using the product they trust.

A note on formula safety: All formula sold commercially in Israel, the USA, and Europe is regulated to meet basic nutritional requirements for infant health. The difference between products is not safety — it is composition, additional features (like probiotics and OPO), flavor, and your specific baby's response. Always consult your pediatrician before making any change to your baby's formula.

Materna Non-Dairy: For Babies with Cow's Milk Sensitivity

One of the most significant Materna products for American families is the Non-Dairy (soy-based) formula — designed for infants with cow's milk protein allergy or lactose sensitivity.

Cow's milk protein allergy affects approximately 2-3% of infants globally, making it one of the most common food allergies in the first year of life. Symptoms include:

• Eczema and skin rashes
• Excessive crying and colic
• Digestive symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, constipation)
• Blood or mucus in stool

When a dairy formula isn't working and breast milk isn't an option, soy-based formula is often the first alternative recommended.

Materna Non-Dairy:

• Soy protein base — adapted for infants sensitive or allergic to cow's milk protein
• Suitable from birth through 12 months — covers the full first year
• Omega-3 and Omega-6 — DHA and ARA for cognitive development and vision
• Calcium, iron, and essential amino acids — for physical development
• Zinc, Vitamins E and C, and antioxidants — for immune support
• Parve (kosher) — containing no animal products, suitable for vegan households

Important note: Soy formula should be used under pediatric guidance. Some infants with cow's milk protein allergy may also react to soy protein. An extensively hydrolyzed or amino acid-based formula may be needed in those cases. Discuss with your baby's pediatrician before switching to any soy formula.

Materna Vanilla Porridge: The 6-Month+ Milestone Food

At around 6 months, babies begin the transition to solid foods — and in Israel, the Materna Vanilla Porridge (called "Gam Ve Gam" — גם וגם — meaning "both and both") is many families' first solid food choice.

Materna Vanilla Porridge is unique: it is simultaneously a porridge and a formula in one product. The blend is approximately 70% breast-milk substitute and 30% porridge — instant powder, just add water.

This means:

• No need to calculate formula separately from porridge — the nutrition is combined
• Smooth texture appropriate for first solids
• Probiotics (B. Lactis) — the same probiotic included in Extra Care formula
• Vanilla flavor — mild, pleasant, and familiar
• Instant preparation — mix with warm water, ready in seconds

For Israeli parents who want their baby's first solid food to be a familiar Israeli product — the same brand, the same probiotics, a natural transition from formula — Materna Vanilla Porridge is the bridge.

Buy Materna Baby Formula in the USA — Shipped Direct from Israel

KosherTop ships all Materna products directly from Israel, from the same Israeli manufacturing and distribution system that supplies Israeli pharmacies and supermarkets. Your baby receives the same product, freshly packed, as babies in Tel Aviv.

🍼 Materna Extra Care Stage 1 — Single Pack (700g)

For infants from birth to 6 months. Probiotics in all stages, Omega-3 and Omega-6, Beta-Palmitate oil for Stage 1 absorption. Israel's premium infant formula, single 700g pack.

Price: $54.95 (sale from $65.00) Order Materna Extra Care Stage 1 — 700g →

🍼🍼 Materna Extra Care Stage 1 — Twin Pack (2×700g)

The same Materna Extra Care Stage 1 — two 700g cans. Better value for families stocking up, especially when ordering from Israel. A 700g can lasts approximately 2-3 weeks for a fully formula-fed newborn.

Price: $83.95 (sale from $101.00, 16% off) Order Materna Extra Care Stage 1 — 2×700g →

🌿 Materna Non-Dairy Formula — 700g (Birth to 12 Months)

Soy-based formula for infants with cow's milk protein sensitivity or allergy. Omega-3 and Omega-6, calcium, iron, zinc, vitamins E and C. Parve (no animal products). Suitable from birth through 12 months.

Price: $47.95 (sale from $58.00) Order Materna Non-Dairy Formula — 700g →

🥣 Materna Vanilla Porridge "Gam Ve Gam" — From 6 Months

70% formula + 30% porridge in one product. Vanilla flavor, probiotics included, instant preparation. Israel's most popular first solid food for babies. Just add water.

Price: $16.95 (sale from $19.00) Order Materna Vanilla Porridge →

Browse All Baby Products at KosherTop →

Practical Guide: Ordering Materna from Israel to the USA

How long does shipping take? KosherTop ships from Hod Hasharon, Israel to the USA in 7-14 business days. Plan your order to arrive with at least a week of your current supply remaining.

How much to order? A 700g can of Stage 1 formula makes approximately 130 prepared bottles of 90ml each — roughly 2-3 weeks of supply for a fully formula-fed newborn. For a 2-3 month supply, order 4-6 cans or use the twin pack (2×700g) option.

Shelf life? Unopened Materna has a shelf life of approximately 24 months from production date. It is safe to order several months' supply at once, provided you have dry, cool storage.

Does it need refrigeration? No. The powder is shelf-stable until opened. Once opened, use within 3-4 weeks and store in a cool, dry place.

Is it the same Materna as in Israel? Yes. KosherTop ships the Israeli-market product directly from Israeli distribution. Not a reformulated export version. The exact product sold in Israeli pharmacies today.

What if the can arrives dented? A minor surface dent from shipping is cosmetically problematic but does not affect the product's safety, provided the seal is intact. Do not use formula from any can with a compromised seal. Contact KosherTop customer service at koshertop@gmail.com for any damaged shipment concerns.

Kosher Formula: What You Need to Know

Kosher baby formula is a subject of significant practical importance for observant Jewish families.

Materna Extra Care dairy: Carries Mehadrin kosher certification. The dairy status means it is a meat-restricted product — it should not be given in a meal where meat is also served at the table (though infants eating formula are generally treated leniently in halachic practice; consult your rabbi for specific guidance).

Materna Non-Dairy (soy): Parve — contains no meat or dairy. This is a significant practical advantage: soy formula can be given in any meal context without kosher separation concerns.

Formula at Passover: Passover presents special challenges for formula. The grain-free status required for Passover means standard formula may contain chametz (leavened grain). Consult your rabbi well in advance of Passover about appropriate formula options, as this is an area with significant rabbinic discussion and community variation.

A Note from KosherTop

We understand what it means to be an Israeli parent in America looking for the formula your baby started on in Israel. It's not about price. It's not even primarily about nutrition. It's about giving your baby something familiar — the same taste, the same texture, the same formulation — while you navigate everything else that comes with building a life in a new country.

We ship Materna directly from Israel because we know this matters. Our team in Hod Hasharon packs every order with care, and we're reachable at koshertop@gmail.com if you have questions about your shipment.

Your baby deserves the best. When the best is Materna, we'll ship it from where it comes from.

KosherTop is an Israeli kosher food store based in Hod Hasharon, Israel, shipping authentic Israeli products — including Materna baby formula, Israeli food, and Dead Sea beauty products — directly to customers across the United States and worldwide. Operated by Misstica Export Ltd since 2015.