Nestle Buys Gerber for $5.5 Billion
Add Gerber baby food to the list of Nestle products to boycott. Today Nestle announced plans to acquire Gerber Products Company. Forbes reports:
The acquisition helps further Nestle’s recent focus on health and nutrition, following its purchases of U.S. weight control company Jenny Craig and [Novartis Medical Nutrition]….
“The acquisition of Gerber is the perfect complementary fit,” said Nestle Chairman and CEO Peter Brabeck-Letmathe. “It not only gives Nestle the leadership position in baby food, but it also constitutes a decisive step to establish Nestle Nutrition as the undisputed global leader in the nutrition field.”
And here I thought “Nestle Nutrition” was an oxymoron….
All the more reason to make your own baby food when the time comes to start solids.
Tags: breastfeeding, Gerber, lactation, Nestle, news, nutritionRelated Stories
POSTED IN: breastfeeding, nutrition
6 opinions for Nestle Buys Gerber for $5.5 Billion
Jill P
Apr 12, 2007 at 11:31 am
I haven’t boycotted Nestle (though I’m considering it after reading a bit more), but I have always made my own baby food, both for my son (now 3) and my daughter (6 months). It’s a breeze. I just take a bit of the food we’ve made for the rest of the family and throw it in the food processor before we add the seasonings. I use water when I need moisture because pumping is a hassle. I also blend with rice cereal to soften harsher tastes (like broccoli). I put extra in the freezer (ice cube trays) for subsequent days. My daughter gobbles it up and I know exactly what she’s getting. I work full-time, so I know how crazy and busy life can get, but it’s really quite easy. I use a book to remind myself what can be frozen and what foods are particularly rich in certain nutrients, so I know she’s getting a good variety. My favorite is First Meals by Annabel Karmel, but there are plenty of good ones out there.
Eilat
Apr 12, 2007 at 11:39 am
This is disturbing. And I wish they wouldn’t insult people’s intelligence when talking about “nutrition”. I mean, Nestle is mainly known worldwide for chocolate!
I have never used Gerber baby food products, but their training underpants are really great. Simple, cotton non-pull-ups and they are affordable. Now what will I use?
Angela
Apr 12, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Jill P - I too was pleasantly surprised how easy it is to make your own baby food. It did not feel like extra work for me to mash or otherwise process the food I was already serving for the meal. Thanks for the book recommendation!
Eilat - I know what you mean! I used those training pants with my first daughter too! I haven’t pulled them out of the drawer this time though because cloth diapers have eased the transition to toilet learning. At 28 months my daughter asks to use the restroom when we’re out at the store (usually when we’re at the back of the store LOL) even when she has a cloth diaper on.
Jul
Apr 13, 2007 at 12:09 am
Just saw an article about this in the Swiss newspaper this morning and was running over to tell you about it - but looks like you already know!
Angela
Apr 13, 2007 at 5:27 am
Thanks for thinking of me Jul!
amalia cimpean
Jul 19, 2007 at 9:43 am
I want to know if the gerber products are good for my child. I do not trust them when they say that there are not preservatives.
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: