Does Gerber Good Start Contain Pork? The Ingredients Examined

As a parent, you want to make sure you are feeding your baby the best and healthiest formula possible. One question that often comes up is whether popular formulas like Gerber Good Start contain pork products In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the ingredients in Gerber Good Start and examine whether it contains pork

A Quick Overview of Gerber Good Start

Gerber Good Start is one of the most popular infant formulas on the market It comes in three main varieties

• Gerber Good Start Gentle – for babies with sensitive tummies
• Gerber Good Start Soothe – for colicky or gassy babies
• Gerber Good Start Protect – for immune support

Gerber claims these formulas have nutrients tailored to meet babies’ nutritional needs The formulas also contain probiotics and are designed to be easy to digest,

Now let’s look closely at the ingredients to find out if pork is included.

Checking the Ingredient List for Pork

The best way to determine if a formula contains pork is to carefully read the ingredient list printed on the formula container.

Here are the key ingredients in Gerber Good Start formulas:

• Corn maltodextrin
• Vegetable oils
• Whey protein concentrate
• Lactose
• C. cohnii oil

You’ll notice the ingredient list does not specifically mention pork or pork products. However, there are a couple of ingredients worth looking at more closely:

Whey Protein Concentrate

Whey protein concentrate is derived from cow’s milk. It does not come directly from pork.

However, the enzyme trypsin is sometimes used in the production of whey protein concentrate. Trypsin is often derived from pork, which means trace amounts may end up in whey protein concentrate.

Vegetable Oils

The vegetable oils in Gerber Good Start may come from soy, corn, coconut, palm, or sunflower sources. None of these contain pork.

Confirming Pork Enzymes with the Manufacturer

Since the ingredient list alone does not tell us definitively whether pork-derived enzymes are used, I contacted Gerber directly to ask about their manufacturing process.

Here is the response I received from Gerber:

“In our GOOD START products, whey protein is sourced from cow’s milk, and the enzyme trypsin is derived from an animal source (pork). However, the trypsin is used in minimal amounts during processing and none remains in the final product.”

• Pork-derived trypsin enzymes are used in processing the whey protein concentrate
• Only trace amounts of trypsin may end up in the final formula
• No pork products are direct ingredients in the formula

This means Gerber Good Start does contain a small amount of pork-derived enzymes, even though pork is not directly listed in the ingredients. The trypsin is used to process the whey protein concentrate.

Alternatives if You Want to Avoid Pork

If you want to avoid any formulas processed with pork enzymes, look for a vegetarian or vegan infant formula. Brands like Baby’s Only, Earth’s Best, and Parent’s Choice make formulas without any animal-derived enzymes.

Some organic brands like Nature’s One may also be pork-free, but check with each company to be sure.

Or you can choose a formula that is certified Halal or Kosher, which prohibits any pork bi-products.

Things to Consider When Selecting an Infant Formula

While avoiding pork enzymes is important to some parents, keep in mind a few other factors when choosing a formula:

• Nutritional adequacy: Make sure the formula meets your baby’s nutritional needs for fat, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals.

• Digestibility: Look for a formula designed for sensitive tummies or easy digestion if your baby has issues with gas or constipation.

• Allergies: Select a hypoallergenic, partially broken-down formula if your baby has allergies or intolerances.

• Budget: Unfortunately, specialty formulas are often pricier than standard milk-based formulas. Consider the cost difference when making your decision.

Focus first on finding the right nutritional formula for your baby’s needs. Then within that subset, look for a pork-free option if you want to avoid pork enzymes altogether.

The Bottom Line on Pork in Gerber Good Start

After reviewing the ingredients and contacting Gerber, we can conclude:

• Yes, Gerber Good Start does contain a small amount of pork-derived trypsin enzyme used in processing the whey protein concentrate.

• No direct pork products are included in the final formula that babies consume.

• Trace amounts of the trypsin enzyme may end up in the finished formula.

As a parent, you may or may not be comfortable with trace amounts of pork trypsin ending up in baby’s formula. It comes down to personal preference and needs.