Health · Public Health & Disease · 16 hrs ago
Texas sues Nestlé and Gerber over alleged heavy metals in baby food
Texas has sued Nestlé and its US subsidiary Gerber Products over baby food.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton alleges the companies misled parents about toxic heavy metals in Gerber products.
The case concerns products from 2017 to 2019, including 67 batches of rice flour alleged to have excessive arsenic.
Paxton also alleges that some carrots and sweet potatoes contained cadmium above permitted levels, and that Gerber rarely tested for mercury.
He says the company claimed its products were safe and strictly tested while its own analyses showed high arsenic and lead levels.
Nestlé denies misleading parents and says Gerber products undergo extensive testing and meet or exceed US requirements.
The case centers on whether the companies’ claims about product safety and testing were accurate.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued Nestlé and its US subsidiary Gerber Products over alleged heavy metals in Gerber baby food.
The state alleges the companies misled parents about toxic heavy metals in their products.
Paxton says that from 2017 to 2019, Gerber used 67 batches of rice flour with arsenic levels more than nine times the permitted concentration.
Nestlé denies the allegations and says its baby products meet or exceed US requirements.
- Who
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing Nestlé and its US subsidiary, Gerber Products.
- What
- Texas alleges the companies misled parents about toxic heavy metals in Gerber baby food.
- When
- The allegations concern 2017 to 2019. The article was published on October 16, 2026.
- Where
- Texas; the products are Gerber baby foods.
- Why
- Paxton alleges Gerber used ingredients with excessive heavy metal levels and misled parents about product safety.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton
Nestlé and Gerber
Heavy metals
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton
Texas alleges that Gerber used ingredients with excessive levels of arsenic, cadmium and other heavy metals.
Nestlé and Gerber
Nestlé says its baby products meet or exceed US requirements.
Testing and safety claims
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton
Paxton alleges Gerber knew of dangerous arsenic and lead levels while claiming its products were safe and rigorously tested.
Nestlé and Gerber
Nestlé says every Gerber product undergoes strict testing for more than 500 toxins and contaminants.
Paxton alleges Gerber used 67 batches of rice flour containing more than nine times the permitted arsenic concentration.
The article reported that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton had sued Nestlé and Gerber Products.
- Plaintiff
- Texas
- Attorney general
- Ken Paxton
- Companies sued
- Nestlé and Gerber Products
- Period cited
- 2017–2019
- Rice flour batches alleged
- 67
- Arsenic level alleged
- More than nine times the permitted concentration
What people are saying
Gerber rarely tested for mercury. For most of this period, the company tested individual ingredients instead of finished foods for infants.
Every Gerber product undergoes strict testing to detect more than 500 toxins and contaminants. In addition, quality controls and safety standards meet—and often exceed—US regulatory criteria.