Is Baby Formula Safety a Reason to Worry for Parents?

Is Baby Formula Safety a Reason to Worry for Parents?

Illinois mom Margo Gill could never have fathomed the baby formula she fed her infant daughter was the cause of a deadly disease. 

In July, a jury ordered Abbott Laboratories to pay $495 million in damages after the company’s specialized milk formula was found to be responsible for Gill’s baby developing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

The dangerous bowel disease was thrust into the limelight when parents filed lawsuits against major infant formula companies. They claimed that cow’s milk-based formulas increased the risk of NEC in premature infants and low birth weight babies.

Preterm babies have a higher risk of developing NEC. Cleveland Clinic says the condition causes intestinal tissue to die, and sometimes a hole in the intestine. In rare and extreme cases, infants require surgery to remove the damaged intestine.

NEC verdicts could threaten the supply of specialized preterm formula

The latest NEC lawsuit update has far-reaching consequences for defendants Abbott Laboratories and Mead Johnson & Company. The companies are responsible for popular baby formula brands like Similac Infant Formula and Enfamil Infant Formula.

Shortly after the verdict, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued a statement saying the ruling could jeopardize the supply of specialized infant formula in the U.S.

In March, an Illinois jury ruled against Mead Johnson in a similar case, awarding $60 million in damages.

The toxic baby formula lawsuits are ongoing with no signs of slowing down. TorHoerman Law states that lawsuits against formula manufacturers are currently being filed in state and federal courts.

The big question remains: how will the NEC rulings affect baby formula safety going forward?

Don’t Panic Just Yet

While concerned parents welcomed the verdict, the AAP didn’t share the same sentiment. The association’s president Dr Benjamin Hoffman warned that courtrooms are not the best place to decide clinical recommendations, especially in infant care. Specialized formulas provide an essential source of nutrition, added Dr Hoffman. On the other hand, breast milk may not reduce or eliminate the risk of NEC.  Because the formula is only produced by Abbott and Mead Johnson, a potential shortage could be devastating for families in need. Although research doesn’t point specifically to infant baby formula causing NEC, the exact cause remains unclear. 

Pediatrician Tina Feeley tells What to Expect that the biggest barrier facing premature infants is growing. Sometimes, the only way to ensure adequate nutrition is through fortified formulas.In the interim, experts say there’s no need to panic. If in doubt, discuss your preemie’s nutritional needs with your healthcare practitioner.

 

FDA Safety Checks

An overwhelming amount of information on baby formula lawsuits is readily available. A useful guideline is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The organization is responsible for safety checks and recalls. In 2022, the FDA ordered the temporary closure of a baby formula manufacturing plant operated by Abbott Laboratories after several babies fell ill. Investigators found five strains of the dangerous bacteria cronobacter sakazakii inside the facility. 

The closure led to a nationwide baby formula shortage. 

As it stands, the FDA oversees infant formula regulatory requirements. These factors include safety, nutritional adequacy, packaging, and labeling. It’s also important to note that the FDA does not approve infant formulas. However, manufacturers must notify the agency before marketing a new product.

The latest formula recall occurred in May this year when Dairy Manufacturers Inc. recalled three of its products. According to an FDA press release, the products didn’t comply with all infant formula regulations.

Further to its investigation, cronobacter contamination was found in a sample of Crecela.

Parents Advocating for Change

Families impacted by NEC experience considerable emotional and financial stress. Yet, they’ve mustered the strength to take on big corporations. Jasmine Watson is one mother who refuses to be silenced. Her son Chance Dean lived for 25 days after contracting NEC. Like Margo Gill, Watson took her fight to court. 

Five years later, a photo of Chance was presented to the jury at the St. Clair County Courthouse in Belleville, Illinois. They ruled that Mead Johnson was negligent and had failed to adequately warn Watson that the incidence of NEC is higher in formula-fed preterm babies.

Although Watson’s civil lawsuit ended on a positive note, thousands of parents and caregivers are awaiting the same outcome. Over 7,000 families are in desperate need of answers and closure. 

Many more are advocating for baby formula manufacturers to admit they were well aware of the risks associated with their products but failed to provide adequate warning.

If you suspect your baby developed NEC after being fed toxic baby formula, contact NEC baby formula lawyers to seek further legal action.