Infants require the right nutrition for their healthy growth. If a newborn gets inadequate nourishment, it can lead to several issues. For instance, it might stunt their height as an adult, cause developmental issues and result in impaired intellectual performance. Hence, parents, to ensure that their babies receive the correct diet, have been relying on baby formula products.
Even though infant formula ads claim that these products have the right nutrition mix, parents have been facing issues. Recently, Enfamil and Similac formulas have been mentioned in NEC lawsuits. Parents reported that their premature babies have developed NEC (necrotizing enterocolitis), a fatal intestinal disease after they were fed infant formula.
Therefore, parents must make a wise decision about choosing baby formula products for their infants. They must read about the current lawsuits and personal accounts of mothers whose children have suffered from NEC. It will ensure that they don’t face the same predicament.
Babies Suffer After Being Fed Similac Special Care
In March 2024, AboutLawsuits.com reported the story of Chante Watson and her 12-year-old daughter, Anaya Jackson, who developed NEC. The little girl suffered from permanent gastrointestinal injuries after being fed Similac Special Care infant formula at the hospital after birth.
In her NEC lawsuit, Watson named Abbott Laboratories as the defendant. She stated that the manufacturer withheld vital information from doctors and parents like her about the side effects of infant formula products.
NEC typically affects premature babies, and it occurs when fatal bacteria erode the intestinal walls. It causes parts of the tissue to get inflamed or die. Nec symptoms include:
- A tender or swollen belly
- Trouble feeding
- Extreme lethargy
- Unstable body temperature
- Yellow or green vomit
- Changes in blood pressure and heart rate
This health condition usually requires emergency surgery while the infant is in the NICU. There are cases where babies don’t survive.
Watson, with her complaint, joins an increasing number of similar baby formula lawsuits filed against the makers of Enfamil and Similac. The complaints made it clear that Mead Johnson and Abbott Laboratories placed their target of earning profits over the safety and physical well-being of newborns. They continuously ran ads that made parents believe that their products were better than breastfeeding.
TorHoerman Law states that the NEC lawsuits are ongoing. According to the May 2024 update, 496 cases are pending in the MDL. 43 new cases were forwarded to the MDL last month. Therefore, if you’ve noticed NEC symptoms in your infant, get a medical diagnosis before you seek legal recourse. Consulting a lawyer is a wise decision, as they will study your case and guide you to navigate the legal path correctly.
Why Should Parents Learn About Baby Formula Side Effects and NEC Lawsuits?
Infant formula products aren’t as attractive as they seem. Families have won major settlements and verdicts.
In May 2024, Mead Jhonson was held accountable for a plaintiff’s infant suffering from NEC. The manufacturing giant had to pay $60 million as a settlement payout. Parents should stay tuned to such lawsuit details and the side effects of baby formula products for various reasons. It can help to:
Decide Better About Breastfeeding
Parents find it confusing to select whether to formula feed or breastfeed their infants. If you are a working mother, you might decide not to breastfeed your baby. You might have medical conditions like active tuberculosis that restrict you from breastfeeding. Hence, you might choose baby formula for the best nutrition. But the recent flurry of lawsuits suggests otherwise.
Health experts claim that breast milk is the ideal nutritional choice for babies. The side effects of baby formula include NEC, allergies, obesity, respiratory infections, SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), and cognitive developmental issues.
The decision between these two is certainly a personal one. But once you are aware of how infant formula can hurt your baby’s health, chances are you will get clear about the benefits of breastfeeding.
Avoid Baby Formula Products Altogether
In their lawsuits, many parents have claimed Mead Johnson and Abbott Laboratories should have been transparent about the health hazards of infant formula products. They should have issued information about BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy), a fatal component in cow’s milk that causes sepsis and NEC. Despite warnings from the FDA, the manufacturers didn’t alert the public about the side effects of infant formula.
This reflects that these brands chose corporate greed over the safety of preterm babies. This should be enough reason for you to avoid baby formula products from specific brands. It will also raise awareness about the issue and ensure other parents are updated about the dangers of Similac and Enfamil formulas.
Be Aware About the Legal Procedures
Since baby formula has been in use for a while, several infants have already suffered from its ill effects. Hence, when you learn about NEC lawsuits, you must know the probable legal procedures to follow, should you decide to file a lawsuit. You also realize that walking the legal path alone can be risky, and consulting an expert lawyer is essential.
Furthermore, reading about the lawsuits will also let you know that you will receive the settlement payout to cover your losses. It’s not a battle without any hope of receiving a fair compensatory amount.
In conclusion, parents worldwide should be aware of the health hazards of infant formula products. An increasing number of lawsuits highlighted unending cases of infants developing NEC and dying because of it. Furthermore, learning about the allegations about baby formula products will help you communicate clearly with your doctor and decide better about your baby’s nutrition.
