By Kyla Campbell - Cox Washington
(MyFoxBoston.com) -- Nonprofit food watchdog, The Center for Science in the Public Interest said the makers of Gerber and Plum Organics foods are misleading consumers by emphasizing trendy ingredients, like kale and quinoa, on the front of packages.
âBut these products contain very little of these expensive, nutritious ingredients that you think you're feeding your baby,â said Michael Jacobson, executive director for CSPI.
He says Plum Organics foods, regardless of the food touted on the package, contain mostly water and apple puree. âThen they add a little dollop of the raspberries or quinoa and so on,â said Jacobson.
CSPI says Gerber's vegetable products contain almost no vegetables. Jacobson said spinach flakes is one of the least predominant ingredients.
Jacobson said federal regulators can force food makers to put the percentage of the ingredients on the front of the packages, but the Food and Drug Administration told our Washington bureau, it interprets the rule differently. At this point, the FDA doesn't intend to act.
âIn the meantime, parents have to read labels carefully,â said Jacobson.
A Plum spokesperson told us the company has complete confidence in its labels and that they meet regulatory requirements. The spokesperson also said water is a main ingredient because it's needed to hydrate food and make it the right consistency for babies.
Gerber said it utilizes ingredient order of predominance when naming fruit and vegetable products. The company encourages consumers with questions to contact them at 800-4-GERBER.
Cox Media Group
