Gerber To Cut Sugar, Starch In Baby Food

Gerber Products Co., the dominant maker of baby foods in America, said Tuesday that it will stop adding starch and sugar to most of its main products in an effort to win over health-conscious parents.

Gerber said the move, to be formally announced today, is unrelated to criticisms by a consumer advocacy group that the company deceived the public about the nutritional value of some of its baby foods, which it diluted with water, sugar and chemically modified starch.

The change, which will take place over the next six months, primarily affects foods made for older infants and toddlers, the company said. Gerber foods for the youngest babies have never contained starch or sugar.

With the change, 121 of Gerber’s 190 baby food products won’t contain starch or sugar.