Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 21, 1995                   TAG: 9504210119
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: COX NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                 LENGTH: Medium

BABY 'JUNK FOOD' CRITICIZED

Frequently, ``the first junk foods that American children will eat'' are spooned into their mouths by well-meaning parents, warned Michael Jacobson, director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

The report said babies would get more nutrition at less cost if parents mashed fresh bananas, bought regular applesauce and used only ``first-stage'' commercial foods for infants because those marketed for older babies contain more fillers and less real food.

While first-stage baby foods consist of a single fruit or vegetable and water, the report said, second- and third-stage foods for older babies often contain as much or more sugar and starchy filler as fruit or vegetable. Gerber bananas for infants, for instance, is almost all banana, while its bananas with tapioca for older babies is only 44 percent banana.

The study also showed that baby food costs twice as much as equivalent adult products. And while prepared baby food is convenient, the report said, ``any parent with a food processor, blender or mashing fork can easily prepare, safe, nutritious and economical food at home for their infant.''

Gerber responded with a statement that said the study failed to recognize the company's research and quality efforts.

The company said the real issues in baby feeding are the child's growth, dietary variety, providing taste and texture that babies will eat and educating consumers in the way Gerber has for more than 60 years.

The Associated Press contributed information to this story.