Gerber Baby Food

[Guest guest]

Hi --

Just wanted to post what I found out regarding the gerber baby food issue.

This came from the Better Business Bureau of Dallas's website. The web

address is:

www.bbb.org/alerts/dallasgerber.asp

Cindy -- mommy to 7, 5 and (22 months, FTT, SID,

hypotonia, g-tube fed with Neocate, undiagnosed food allergies, but getting

cuter all the time)

Rumor of a Gerber Baby Food Settlement Is False

September 19, 1997 -- BBBs report an unfounded rumor that has been sweeping

the country. Spreading by corporate e-mail, fax messages, and word of mouth,

is a false claim that, due to a settlement, Gerber Products Company, Fremont,

Michigan, has agreed to give a $500 savings bond to parents of children of a

certain age. This simply is not true.

The Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Dallas has verified that this is

just a rumor. In fact, Gerber is not part of any settlement; no savings bonds

are available as claimed; and mail to the address in the false message is

returned to sender.

Parents who respond would not only be wasting time and money, but also would

possibly release person information to unknown parties. The bogus message

says:

" Gerber Baby Food lost a class action suit against then. Gerber had been

marketing their baby food as " all natural, " in fact it was found to contain

preservatives. In the settlement, Gerber Food is now responsible for giving

every child born between 1985 and 1997 (under the age of 12), a $500 savings

bond. Gerber, however, is not responsible for contacting or advertising this

settlement in any way...To obtain the bond, send a copy of the child's birth

certificate and social security card to... "

Just how the rumor began is unknown, but it has been spreading around the

country for months. The rumor may have grown out of the news about an actual

settlement reached in several states with some manufacturers of infant

formula. Under that settlement, eligible parents could file for shares of the

settlement amount, with a deadline of January 31, 1997. Many claimants

recovered only a few dollars, not hundreds or thousands.

The actual settlement involved pricing of infant formula, not the labeling of

baby food, as claimed in the false rumor.

Consumers can reach Gerber Products Company, Consumer Affairs, at

1-. Gerber also has placed information about the rumor on its

website at gerber.com/story/newshome.html.

Also, according to the BBB in SeaTac, Washington, where the rumor circulated

earlier this year, the post office box cited in the message was closed by

Rust Consulting, Minneapolis, Minnesota, the firm that processed claims for

the infant formula settlement. Any mail to the post office box cited in the

bogus messages will be returned to sender. Consumers can call Rust Consulting

at .

The Better Business Bureau warns against giving personal information,

including Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, or driver's license

numbers, to anyone who doesn't have legitimate need for it. The information

could be used for illegal purposes.