A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHIEF PARENT OFFICER

At Gerber, the health and well-being of children is our No. 1 priority. That’s why we offer probiotics shown to help support baby’s digestive health in the majority of our infant formulas, as well as in dietary supplements and infant cereals. 

Research has shown that the type of bacteria that live in our intestines can influence health starting at birth and through infancy when a baby’s immune and digestive systems are still developing. For more than a century, probiotics, which are defined as “good bacteria that provide beneficial effects,” have been used to help promote a healthy balance of good bacteria in the digestive tract.

Different probiotic strains have different benefits. We currently use two types of probiotics for our formulas and supplement drops -- B. lactis and L. reuteri -- because of the scientific evidence supporting their use in infants and children. B. lactis helps support baby’s immune and digestive systems (Fukushima 1998, Chouraqui 2004, Holscher 2012, Kirjavainen 2002, Taipale 2011), and L. reuteri can help address colic, excessive crying and fussiness and reduce mild spit-ups (Anabrees 2013, Bird 2017, Finn 2017, Sung 2018, Xu 2015).

We also offer infant cereals with B. lactis. 

Both of the probiotic strains we use have been extensively studied and are recognized as safe by leading health authorities and reviewed for use infant foods and formulas by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).   

If you have any questions, I encourage you to give the Gerber Parents Resource Center a call at 1-844-796-5723. We are here for you 24/7.

 

Bill Partyka

CEO & Chief Parent Officer

Gerber®

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON PROBIOTICS

Do you have questions about the safety and quality of foods for your little one? You’re in the right place, because we’ve got answers!

1. Q: What are probiotics?

A: Probiotics are a safe way to help support a healthy digestive system. Research has shown that the type of bacteria that live in our intestines can influence health starting at birth, when baby’s immune and digestive systems are still developing. Probiotics have a long history that began more than a century ago, when scientists started to realize that it was possible to replace the “bad” bacteria in the gut with “good” bacteria to improve health.

2. Q: Are probiotics safe?

A: Yes. Infant formulas with probiotics are safe. All of our infant formulas, including those with probiotics, are evaluated and reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), undergo thorough safety evaluations, and follow Good Manufacturing Practices. If you have questions about introducing probiotics into your baby’s diet, please contact your pediatrician.

3. Q: Why do you add probiotics to your products?

A: Dietary probiotics can help provide good bacteria, to help encourage a healthy balance of bacteria in the digestive tract. We at Gerber do anything for baby, including providing foods, formulas and dietary supplements with probiotics for parents who need or want them for their little ones.

4. Q: What type of probiotics do you use in your products?

A: We use B. lactis and L. reuteri in our products. We specifically chose those two types of probiotics because of the scientific evidence supporting their use for infants and children. B. lactis is added to support baby’s immune system and digestive system (Fukushima 1998, Chouraqui 2004, Holscher 2012, Kirjavainen 2002, Taipale 2011), and L. reuteri is added to help address colic, excessive crying and fussiness and mild spit-ups. Gerber® SoothePro has L. reuteri, a probiotic clinically proven to reduce crying time by 50% in colicky babies in as little as one week (Anabrees 2013, Bird 2017, Finn 2017, Sung 2018, Xu 2015).

Not all probiotics provide the same benefits to baby, so you should select a probiotic based on how your baby might benefit. If you have specific questions about introducing probiotics into your baby’s diet, please consult your pediatrician.

5. Q: When should I begin to give my child probiotics?

A: Use of probiotics from birth can help support digestive health. At birth, a baby’s digestive tract includes some bacteria, and it continues to be colonized by bacteria as baby grows. The types of bacteria that become a part of the baby’s digestive tract are influenced by many factors, including the birth process, breastfeeding, and the environment. Dietary probiotics, which provide live bacteria shown to be beneficial to the digestive tract, can help support a healthy digestive system -- which is a critical part of overall health and immune function.

6. Q: What are the long-term effects of using probiotics in early age?

A: During the first years of life, the bacteria in the gut are still developing and help shape baby’s immune and digestive systems. Probiotics can help support digestive health during this time. As they don’t remain in the gut for long, probiotics should continue to be consumed for ongoing digestive and immune benefits.  

 

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