How we're nourishing a
healthier generation
Our commitment to a healthier generation is about more than just our products. Every day we work hard to improve the nutrition and eating habits of your growing children from birth to preschool.
Continuous science & research
Our research is one of the most important things we do, because it's the foundation of our products and services. In partnership with the American Dietetic Association, we published the Feeding Infants and Toddlers Studies (FITS). Our first study in 2002 revealed poor eating habits at surprisingly early ages, which had a large influence on the medical community and public policy in the United States. We're currently working on a follow-up study, and the results will be shared with the medical community in the Fall of 2009.
For decades we've worked with major universities and renowned nutrition experts to better understand children's nutritional needs. We conduct clinical trials and pediatric nutrition research at our Nestlé Research Center, and in more than 15 countries worldwide. Our research network has helped us do things like create the first infant formula with partially hydrolyzed whey protein for easy digestion and the first infant formula with probiotics designed to support baby's healthy immune system.
"We're learning what we need to do to make our products even better and we're doing it. We have the opportunity to impact public health by providing innovative, nutritious products and giving parents the information they need to feed their children right."
-Kathleen Reidy, DrPH, RD, Vice President of Global Regulatory Affairs and Nutrition
Informing & supporting the medical community
We put all of our research to hard work. Our scientists use this important information to write research papers available to the medical community online, in our Pediatric Basics™ magazine, and in many peer-reviewed scientific publications. We're a trusted source to help keep medical and health professionals up-to-date on the latest research for your children.
"The most exciting part of our job is putting knowledge into practice. And the greatest reward is providing patients and health care providers with the tools and products to make a difference in children's nutrition and health."
-Dr. Jose Saavedra, MD, FAAP, Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Medical Director
Influencing public policy
We help improve public policy by submitting valuable information to government agencies. For example, policy makers used the FITS data showing gaps in babies' fruit and vegetable consumption to support their recommendation to add fruits and vegetables to the Women, Infants, and Children food program. We've also submitted detailed nutrition information to the Food and Drug Administration to help create daily values for baby- and toddler-specific nutrition labels.
"Our most important responsibility is maintaining a mom's trust. We support government agencies and policy makers with the research we publish, our points of view, and our experience. We want to help policy makers understand how their decisions will affect children's health."
-Cheryl Callen, Director of Regulatory Affairs
Creating nutritious products tailored
to baby's development
We take our quality and safety standards seriously. Did you know that standards for GERBER® ORGANIC exceed some government requirements? And that our foods are designed to meet the nutrition and development needs for each stage of your child's growth? We even use the FITS research and American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations to design foods that help fill common nutrition gaps found in your child's diet.
And we haven't stopped there. We also make sure each food is the right size, shape, and texture for each stage of your child's development. Then we put our foods to the true test: We invite parents and their children to try them. If the foods haven't met our standards, you won't see them on the shelf.
"We're always interested in what parents think. We watch kids eating our foods and observe how mom feeds the child. Did she do something we weren't expecting? Did she cut up the food? Mash it? Then we think about how we can change our foods to meet their needs."
-Anne Emenhiser MS, RD, CSP, Associate Director of Sensory and Consumer Insights
Providing education, services & tools
We want you to have the information and resources you need to confidently nourish your child. That's why we provide 24/7 access to nutrition and feeding experts to answer your questions from prenatal to preschool. We've also created StartHealthyStayHealthy.com to give you stage-based nutrition articles, tools, and videos. We even deliver stage-based nutrition information and savings to your door at key transition points in your baby's diet.
"Lots of moms call and ask, 'How do I know that my baby is eating enough?' Or we have calls in the middle of the night from moms who have lost their formula scoop and want to know how much powder to use. It's great to be able to relieve parents' concerns."
-Robyn Wimberly, RD, Manager of Consumer Services