Does Gerber Good Start Contain Pork? Examining the Ingredients

As a parent, you want to make sure you are feeding your baby the healthiest and most suitable formula. One common question that comes up is whether popular baby formulas like Gerber Good Start contain any pork products or derivatives.

In this article we’ll take an in-depth look at the ingredients in Gerber Good Start formula and examine whether it contains any pork.

Overview of Gerber Good Start Formula

Gerber Good Start is one of the most widely used infant formulas in the US. It comes in three main varieties designed for babies with different needs:

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

Gerber says these formulas contain nutrients tailored to meet babies’ nutritional needs. They also have probiotics and are formulated to be easy to digest.

Now let’s examine the ingredients closely to find out if pork enzymes or derivatives are included.

Checking the Ingredient List for Pork

To determine if a baby formula contains pork, you need to carefully read the ingredient label 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 by-products. However, there are a couple of ingredients worth examining more closely:

Whey Protein Concentrate

Whey protein concentrate comes from cow’s milk directly. It does not contain pork.

However, the enzyme trypsin is sometimes used to manufacture whey protein concentrate. Trypsin often comes from pork, which means trace amounts could end up in whey concentrate.

Vegetable Oils

The vegetable oils in Gerber Good Start are typically sourced from soy, corn, coconut, palm or sunflower. None of these contain pork.

Confirming with the Manufacturer

Since the ingredient list alone doesn’t definitively tell us if pork enzymes are used, I contacted Gerber directly to inquire 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.”

So to summarize:

• 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 tiny amount of pork-derived enzymes, though pork is not listed directly in the ingredients.

Alternatives If You Want to Avoid Pork Enzymes

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

Some organic brands like Nature’s One may also be pork-free, but check with each company. Or choose a formula certified Halal or Kosher, which prohibits pork by-products.

Other Factors to Consider When Selecting Formula

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

• Nutrition: Make sure the formula provides complete nutrition with adequate fats, carbs, protein, vitamins and minerals.

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

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

• Budget: Unfortunately, specialty formulas are often more expensive than standard milk-based formulas. Consider the price difference.

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

The Bottom Line: Does Gerber Good Start Contain Pork?

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 consumed by babies.

• 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 in baby’s formula. It comes down to personal preferences and needs.

When using the URLs and content below, please identify the frequency of occurrences of entities within that content and write using the correct entities and their frequencies in the article.
In our GOOD START products, whey protein is sourced from cow’s milk, and the enzyme trypsin is derived from an animal source (pork). Trypsin is broken down by heat in the manufacturing process and does not make it into the finished product.
https://community.babycenter.com/post/a40877836/which_formulas_do_not_contain_pork
https://www.reddit.com/r/vegan/comments/6nek4u/fyi_many_kinds_of_infant_formula_use_pork_enzyme/
https://redtablemeats.com/fresh-meat/pork/does-gerber-good-start-have-pork-in-it/