Gerber® Introduces Breakthrough Innovation with New 3rd Foods® Lil' Bits™ Recipes

Product offers new, textural progression with perfectly sized soft pieces of fruits or vegetables that help babies learn to chew and make transition to table food easier

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Gerber

Apr 30, 2015, 12:00 ET

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., April 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Early childhood nutrition leader Gerber announced today the launch of its newest products, Gerber 3^rd Foods® Lil' Bits™ recipes. This new category innovation features a unique and revolutionary cooking method that gives Lil' Bits™ recipes perfectly-sized soft pieces to help babies master the essential chewing developmental milestone.

Gerber 3rd Foods(R) Lil' Bits(TM) Recipes - Apple Blueberry

"The Gerber family is passionate about finding ways to help nurture happy and healthy babies, and our Lil' Bits™ recipes are the perfect transitional food when introducing chewing to little ones," said Aileen Stocks, Chief Marketing Officer. "As a mother of two, I know that introducing food to our kids is an important milestone in our lives. Our new recipe provides the perfect solution for parents to help their babies develop the necessary chewing skills to transition to table food."

Gerber invested over $100 million in technology to create Lil' Bits™ recipes and worked with 80 experts who spent over 120,000 hours developing the product. Research found as older babies develop side to side movement of their tongue, they can begin to move small, soft pieces of food to their jawline for mashing – the early skills of chewing. Introducing pureed foods with soft pieces at this time allows children to explore multiple textures before transitioning fully to solid, table foods.

Additionally, Gerber hosted 80 taste tests and shared over 30,000 spoonfuls of Lil' Bits™ recipes with a panel of babies to ensure the product not only helps in chewing but also has a baby-approved taste.

"It's important our food is as delicious as it is nutritious at Gerber," said Sarah Smith-Simpson, Senior Scientist of Child Development and Consumer Insights for Nestle Nutrition Meals and Drinks. "We hold ourselves to high standards – no other company is currently offering a product comparable to Lil' Bits™ recipes. We use a unique cooking process for all of our Lil' Bits™ recipes to ensure perfectly sized, soft pieces and have worked extensively with developmental experts to design a developmentally appropriate product. In addition, Lil' Bits™ recipes were developed with the help of our panel of 2,000 tiny taste testers."

The Lil' Bits™ recipes come in convenient plastic tubs and a variety of flavors, including seven fruits and three veggies:

Apple Blueberry
Orchard Fruit Medley
Apple Banana
Banana Apple Strawberry
Pear Apple Berry
Island Fruit Blend
Banana Apple Mango
Mixed Carrots, Corn & Butternut Squash
Butternut Squash & Potato
Sweet Potato Apple Carrot & Cinnamon

Lil' Bits™ recipes are now available at major retailers. Additional information about the product, upcoming promotions and chewing milestone tips for parents can be found by visiting Gerber.com.

ABOUT GERBER

Gerber was founded in 1928 in Fremont, Michigan. Gerber Products Company joined the Nestlé family on September 1, 2007. Gerber Products Company is a leader in early childhood nutrition.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150430/212962

SOURCE Gerber