Texas AG Sues Gerber, Nestlé Over Toxic Metals in Baby Food
Texas AG Ken Paxton sues Gerber and Nestlé over arsenic and lead found in baby food products.
2 min read
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Gerber Products Company and Nestlé USA, Inc., alleging that the companies deceived parents about the presence of toxic heavy metals in their baby foods. The lawsuit claims that Gerber and Nestlé advertised their products as safe and well-tested, despite internal test results revealing dangerous levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury.
Test Results Show Toxic Levels
Paxton’s office stated that Gerber used 67 batches of rice flour with more than nine times the arsenic allowed in bottled water between 2017 and 2019. Additionally, the company’s carrots contained up to 17 times the permissible level of cadmium, and its sweet potatoes had nearly 10 times the lead limit. The lawsuit also noted that Gerber’s testing for mercury was frequently negative.
Companies Failed to Act
Despite these findings, Paxton’s office claims that Gerber did not issue any recalls or warnings about the affected products. The 68-page filing against Gerber highlights that its marketing has remained unchanged, and it continues to assure parents that each jar of food undergoes over 100 quality checks.
Violation of Consumer Trust
The lawsuit argues that the baby food industry has long relied on consumer trust, with Nestlé starting the industry in 1967 and acquiring Gerber, which has led the American market since 1928. Paxton’s office states that Gerber and Nestlé violated this trust by failing to disclose the presence of toxic metals in their products.
Transparency Concerns
Paxton pointed out that while Gerber provides a pathway for parents to access nutrition information, it is concealed behind a QR code, which does not offer full transparency. The attorney general’s office emphasized that the heavy metals in the food did not change, nor did the safety claims on the product packaging.
NEW LAWSUIT: I sued major baby food companies Gerber and Nestlé for selling baby food containing dangerous levels of arsenic and lead. pic.twitter.com/jMYAXsLGnv
As the lawsuit unfolds, it underscores growing concerns over the safety of infant food products and the need for greater transparency and accountability from manufacturers.
Source: OANN
