Gerber Sued for Allegedly Making False Claims About its Baby Formula

October 31, 2014

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One of the biggest names in the baby food industry is being sued for false advertising by the Federal Trade Commission.

Gerber Products, a division of Nestle, has been charged with falsely claiming that its Good Start Gentle formula was the first to meet government approval for reducing the risk of allergies in children, according to a report by The Today Show. But, the government says that Gerber has no scientific evidence to support its claims.

In a filing on Thursday, the FTC said it wants Gerber to pull its claim from labels and advertisements and may ask the court to require Gerber to issue refunds for the $20-plus packages sold since 2011, according to the report.

Kevin Goldberg, Gerber vice president and general counsel, says that the company did not violate the law. “We believe we have met, and will continue to meet, all legal requirements to make these product claims,” he told the Associated Press.

Photo: Getty

Vicki Clinebell majored in journalism at the University of Colorado and headed to an advertising agency before beginning a long career in broadcasting, spanning production and copywriting to Sales and Management for an ABC affiliate station.

Her decision to switch gears to pursue a career in writing fulfilled a lifelong ambition. She started as a blogger for a diverse group of businesses, and now writes for a number of digital publications for companies stationed in her hometown in the Rocky Mountains, and provides advertising copy and media buys for national and regional clients. She finds the research as intersting as the writing—she loves learning about subjects as diverse as construction scaffolding, child safety seats, and the newest trends in beauty and fashion.