The Important Role Of Iron Fortification In Infant Cereals

There are some videos on the internet that may lead parents and caregivers to wonder why they can see dark particles in infant cereals. Actually, what you’re seeing is the nutrient iron. It’s completely safe and here’s why it’s important.

At Gerber, we fortify our cereals by adding essential vitamins and minerals to help promote healthy baby development. All of these nutrients are safe and accepted by the FDA. We add iron to support baby’s learning ability and brain development. We know that without iron, babies can risk becoming iron deficient, which can cause anemia, developmental delays and cognitive concerns. That’s why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends infants 6 – 12 months old receive 11 mg of iron a day.

Our research of more than 3,000 children from the 2016 Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS) found that nearly 1 in 5 (18%) infants 6 – 12 months old are not getting the recommended amount of dietary iron. This is where we come in – two servings of Gerber infant cereal meets 100% of baby’s daily iron needs and provides other essential vitamins and minerals.

We're committed to being parents' partners in cooking up healthy and safe foods that are designed to provide the nutrition your baby needs. If you have questions about any of our foods, we are here for you 24/7. Give us a call at 1-844-796-5723.