GERBER® GOOD START® formulas are whey different

Only Gerber^® Good Start^® formulas are made with 100% whey proteins that are partially hydrolyzed (broken down into smaller pieces) for your baby. Formulas made with 100% whey protein:

• Are easy for your baby to digest
• Meet the criteria for a FDA qualified health claim regarding risk of atopic dermatitis

Taking the extra step with your little one's comfort in mind

Only GERBER GOOD START infant formulas start with 100% whey protein, the highest-quality protein available in infant formula. We then take the extra step to break the protein down into smaller pieces to be easy for your baby to digest. Studies have shown that formulas made with partially hydrolyzed, 100% whey protein digest similarly to breastmilk.

Helping reduce the risk of allergies

Nearly 1 in 5 babies will develop atopic dermatitis, a type of allergic skin rash and the most common allergy in infants. Breastfeeding is the best way to reduce the risk of your baby developing this allergy.

For babies who are not exclusively breastfed, the first formula you choose may make a difference. In May 2011, the FDA concluded that current scientific evidence is appropriate for consideration of a claim regarding the relationship between a baby's consumption of 100% whey protein partially-hydrolyzed infant formula and a reduced risk of atopic dermatitis.

The first-ever qualified health claim for infant formula

For healthy infants who are not exclusively breastfed and who have a family history of allergy, feeding 100% whey-protein partially hydrolyzed infant formula from birth up to 4 months of age instead of a formula containing intact cow's milk proteins may reduce the risk of developing atopic dermatitis throughout the first year of life. The FDA has concluded that the relationship between 100% whey-protein partially hydrolyzed infant formulas and the reduced risk of atopic dermatitis is uncertain, because there is little scientific evidence for the relationship. Partially hydrolyzed formulas should not be fed to infants who are allergic to milk or infants with existing milk-allergy symptoms. If you suspect your baby is already allergic to milk, or if your baby is on a special formula for the treatment of allergy, your baby's care and feeding choices should be under a doctor's supervision.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) have all stated that certain infant formulas with hydrolyzed proteins may help reduce the risk of atopic dermatitis—particularly in infants with a family history of allergy—versus formulas made with intact cow's milk protein. It's important to note that partially hydrolyzed infant formulas, including Gerber Good Start formulas, are recommended for routine use in healthy infants, but should not be used to treat children with allergy.

Nothing else is Gerber^® Good Start^®

GERBER GOOD START milk-based formulas are the first and ONLY infant formulas made with 100% whey protein that's partially hydrolyzed. Many other routine milk-based formulas—including Enfamil^® Premium^® and Similac^® Advance^®—are made with intact cow's milk protein.

Read our FAQs on the FDA Qualified Health Claim.