Attorney General's News Release

Oct. 1, 1997

Rumors of consumers obtaining money from baby food settlement a hoax, Nixon says

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon today told Missourians to ignore fliers, faxes and information on the Internet that claim consumers with young children are eligible to receive hundreds of dollars in a settlement involving Gerber Foods. Nixon said his office has received several telephone calls in recent weeks asking if the rumors are true.

"This rumor is false, but it has spread across the country in various incarnations over the past several months," Nixon said. "People hear about this from their friends and family and naturally want to share the news with everyone they know. It's very tempting to think that you can get something for nothing, but it just isn't so."

Fliers and faxes have been sent around the state, stating that if you have a child born between 1985 and 1997 you can receive a $500 savings bond as part of a class action settlement involving Gerber and its baby foods.

The fliers tell people to send in information, such as copies of birth certificates and Social Security numbers, to a post office box in Minnesota. Nixon said there had been a post office box set up in Minnesota to handle claims from a 1996 class action lawsuit involving certain manufacturers of infant formula, but that the box had been closed since January.

The settlement involved consumers in only a handful of states who were eligible to receive between $5 and $45, but no consumers in Missouri were eligible.

"We also have heard a second rumor that the information parents are sending in will be used for devious purposes," Nixon said. "Nothing we have seen from law enforcement supports that. You should, however, safeguard vital information about your children just as you would sensitive personal financial information."

Nixon said Gerber Foods also has information in an effort to correct the misinformation.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818