Texas is suing Gerber, an American baby food giant, and its parent company Nestlé USA. The US government accuses them of marketing baby products containing dangerous levels of arsenic and lead, while presenting them as safe and controlled, reports Bloomberg.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is seeking more than $10 million in fines. Its complaint claims that Gerber knew of the presence of heavy metals in certain products and would not have adapted its communication or sufficiently reduced their content after a US Congressional investigation in 2021.
“When a company makes promises about what parents feed their babies, I will hold them accountable to ensure those promises are kept.”
The investigation found high levels of arsenic, lead and cadmium in Gerber foods. The case prompted the United States Medicines Agency (FDA) to launch a program aimed at reducing children’s exposure to heavy metals in food.
Nestlé rejects accusations
Gerber disputes the charges. The company ensures that its products meet the limits set by the FDA and that it carries out tests on more than 500 toxic substances or contaminants.
Texas opened an investigation in 2025 targeting Gerber and another baby food manufacturer, Plum Organics.
