Enfamil and Similac Baby Formula Lawsuit

UPDATES AND NEC SETTLEMENT INFORMATION

LAWSUIT STATUS: New Cases Being Accepted

Families of premature infants diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) caused by Similac or Enfamil baby formula are pursuing lawsuits against the manufacturers.

As a result of a failure to warn families and medical providers about the risks associated with use of cow’s milk formula with preemies, financial compensation and NEC settlement benefits may be available by filing a baby formula lawsuit.

Lawsuits are being pursued for children who meet the following criteria:

  • Born after January 1, 2000;
  • Premature at 34 Weeks Gestation of Less
  • Fed Similac or Enfamil Formula or Fortifier; and
  • Diagnosed with NEC (necrotizing enterocolitis) or passed away due to sudden gastrointestinal issues.
  • Similac Lawsuits and Enfamil Lawsuits are being pursued by families nationwide
  • Studies establish an increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) from Similac or Enfamil given to premature babies, compared to breast milk or other cow's milk formula given to preemies, compared to breast milk
  • Despite known risks, Similac and Enfamil baby formula were marketed for use among preemies in the NICU or hospital
  • CONTACT A NEC BABY FORMULA LAWYER TO MAKE A CLAIM

Enfamil and Similac NEC Lawsuit Overview

Similac and Enfamil are two popular types of infant formula that have been marketed as safe and effective for premature babies. As a result, the baby formula is often fed to preemies or low birth weight infants in the NICU or hospital before discharge. However, cow’s milk-based products like Enfamil and Similac have been linked to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) among premature infants, which can result in serious injuries, lifelong health complications and death.

A number of studies published over the past three decades have highlighted the link between NEC and Similac, Enfamil or other cow’s milk formula fed to premature infants. However, false and misleading information has been provided to parents, hospitals and medical providers about the risks associated with baby formula and the benefits of breast milk.

Families are now pursuing Enfamil and Similac lawsuits in state and federal courts nationwide, alleging that the manufacturers placed their desire for profits before consumer safety.

Who Can File an Infant Formula NEC Lawsuit?

Enfamil NEC Lawsuits

Parents of infants who developed NEC are filing Enfamil NEC lawsuits against Mead Johnson Nutrition Company after consuming the following Enfamil products;

  • Enfamil NeoPro EnfaCare Infant Formula
  • Enfamil Premature Infant Formula 24 Cal High Protein
  • Enfamil Premature Infant Formula 30 Cal with Iron
  • Enfamil Premature Infant Formula 24 Cal with Iron
  • Enfamil Premature Infant Formula 20 Cal with Iron
  • Enfamil 24 Cal Infant Formula
  • Enfamil Human Milk Fortifier (acidified liquid and powder)

Similac NEC Lawsuits

Parents of infants who developed NEC are filing Similac NEC lawsuits against Abbott Laboratories after consuming the following Similac products;

  • Similac NeoSure
  • Similac Special Care 20
  • Similac Special Care 24
  • Similac Special Care 24 High Protein
  • Similac Special Care 30
  • Similac Alimentum Expert Care
  • Similac Human Milk Fortifier (which is actually a cow’s milk product)
  • Similac Human Milk Fortifier Hydrolyzed Protein Concentrated Liquid
  • Similac Liquid Protein Fortifier

Free consultations and claim evaluations are provided to help determine if a family may be eligible for a baby formula NEC settlement, and there are no fees or expenses unless a recovery is obtained.

Learn More About

Baby Formula Lawsuits

Premature infants fed Similac or Enfamil cow's milk formula faced increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or wrongful death.

SEE IF YOU QUALIFY FOR COMPENSATION

2024 Similac and Enfamil NEC Lawsuit Updates

All Similac lawsuits and Enfamil lawsuits over NEC have been centralized as part of an MDL before U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer in the Northern District of Illinois since April 2022, where parties are preparing a small group of representative claims for early trial dates. While the outcomes of these “bellwether” trials will not be binding on other families, the average NEC lawsuit payout amount may influence the amount of any settlement offers Abbott or Mead Johnson may offer to resolve claims in the future.

  • March 15, 2024 Update: A jury in Illinois state court awarded a $60 million verdict in an Enfamil NEC lawsuit, directing Mead Johnson to compensate the mother of a premature infant who died of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) after being fed Enfamil formula shortly after birth.
  • March 3, 2024 Update: U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer has given the parties until June 28, 2024, to complete general fact discovery for a group of 12 NEC lawsuits selected for early trial dates, providing an extension of two months over the original timeline.
  • October 2023 Update: Judge Pallmeyer has ordered a series baby formula NEC settlement talks be held this month in an effort to explore a resolution for hundreds of similar claims being pursued by families nationwide before the first bellwether trials begin.
  • June 2023 Update: Judge Pallmeyer dismissed all of the infant formula NEC class action lawsuits, allowing the individual claims to proceed. Shortly following, the parties submitted a joint plan to select 10 potential baby formula NEC lawsuits for the first bellwether trials. Nine of those cases were chosen to proceed by Judge Pallmeyer in early November 2023.
  • April 2023 Update: The parties agreed on a series of discovery protocols that will help prepare the bellwether NEC lawsuits for early trial dates.
  • November 2022 Update: Plaintiffs proposed an infant formula NEC bellwether trial schedule which would see the first case go before a jury in mid-2024.
  • October 2022 Update: Parties have submitted a list of 66 claims which could serve as potential NEC baby formula bellwether trials. That list will be whittled down to four cases which will serve as the first early test cases.
  • September 2022 Update: U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer appointed a group of 12 lawyers to serve in various leadership positions during the multidistrict litigation (MDL) proceedings.
  • April 2022 Update: The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) issued an order (PDF) on April 8, 2022, establishing a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) for the growing number of NEC lawsuits over Similac and Enfamil. The order transferred all claims filed throughout various federal courts to U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer in the Northern District of Illinois. Judge Pallmeyer is expected to call for a series of early “bellwether” trials designed to help gauge how juries are likely to respond to certain evidence that will be repeated throughout the litigation.
  • August 2021 Update: A federal judge rejected an attempt by Abbott Laboratories to entirely dismiss a wrongful death lawsuit filed, certifying two questions to the Connecticut state Supreme Court that are relevant to the claims for failure to warn about the link between Similac and NEC.
  • May 2021 Update: One of the earliest Similac necrotizing enterocolitis lawsuits was filed in May 2021, by the parents of a premature baby born in April 2019, who died only 16 days later. The lawsuit alleges that Similac caused NEC, and that the manufacturer failed to adequately warn about the risk.

Enfamil and Similac NEC Risks

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a serious health condition that may be caused by toxic baby formula, where an infant’s intestinal tissues becomes inflamed. If left untreated, it can cause that tissue to die, resulting in perforations in the intestines, which allow bacteria to leak into the abdomen or infiltrate the bloodstream. This can lead to life-threatening infections, narrowing of the intestines, short bowel syndrome, developmental delays and a failure to thrive.

About 90% of NEC cases occur among babies born in the 37th week of pregnancy and about 1 out of every 1,000 premature infants may be effected. It is usually diagnosed through a blood test for bacterial infections, fecal tests looking for blood in the stool, or by x-rays revealing air bubbles in the abdomen or around the intestines.

Symptoms can include:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Abdominal swelling
  • Changes in heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and temperature
  • Bloody diarrhea
  • Green or yellow vomit
  • Inability to gain weight
  • Lack of appetite
  • Lethargy

Although numerous studies published in recent years have linked Similac and Enfamil to an increased risk of NEC, the manufacturers have failed to provide adequate warnings about the potential risk to infants, and in fact still promote their products as a preferred, premium formula for premature infants.

Some studies have indicated babies fed cow’s milk formula exclusively are six to 10 times more likely to be diagnosed with NEC than infants given only breast milk.

Similac & Enfamil NEC Settlements

As of March 2024, there have been no global settlements in the Enfamil and Similac NEC lawsuits currently pending in the federal court system, where the claims have been consolidated before U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer in the Northern District of Illinois.

In 2023, Judge Pallmeyer ordered the parties to select four infant formula NEC lawsuits for an initial bellwether trial pool, to serve as early test cases to see how juries will respond to common evidence and arguments likely to be repeated in hundreds of similar claims.

While the date the first NEC bellwether trial in the federal court system not yet been scheduled, Judge Pallmeyer has previously indicated the cases will be spaced about 12 weeks apart, and prior scheduling orders suggested the claims would be ready to go before juries by the end of 2024.

Bellwether trials serve a strategic purpose in mass tort litigation by providing a sample of jury responses to evidence and arguments that are common across a large number of similar cases. The outcomes of these Enfamil and Similac NEC trials can significantly influence the course of the litigation for several reasons, potentially encouraging a global settlement offer.

How much is an infant formula NEC lawsuit worth?

In March 2024, the first Enfamil NEC lawsuit to go before trial resulted in an Illinois jury awarding $60 million in damages to the mother of a premature infant who died of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) after being fed Enfamil formula shortly after birth.

Although the case was filed in an Illinois state court and not included in the MDL, the lawsuit was being closely watched, since it was the first Enfamil NEC lawsuit to go to trial in the United States, and may signal how juries will respond to similar evidence and testimony during the upcoming Enfamil and Similac NEC bellwether trials.

Free Similac or Enfamil Lawsuit Evaluation

NEC lawyers provide free consultations and claim evaluations to help determine if financial compensation and settlement benefits may be available as a result of the manufacturers’ failure to warn about the link between Similac, Enfamil and necrotizing enterocolitis.

Toxic baby formula Lawsuits are being investigated nationwide for parents of infants who were left severely injured, or who died, due to an NEC diagnosis after being fed Similac or Enfamil while hospitalized.

ENFAMIL OR SIMILAC NEC LAWYERS

All claims are handled on a contingency fee basis and there are no out-of-pocket expenses and no fees unless a recovery is obtained.

REVIEW A CASE

19 Comments

  • AndreaDecember 11, 2022 at 2:25 pm

    If Enfamil and simulation is for preemies then why was my son give it? He wasn't a premier. What the????

  • KEMIAAugust 22, 2022 at 10:55 am

    Both of My Daughters 1 born in 1997 and other in 2000,Similac and Enfamil. They had real issues with digesting there food as they grew older. Realizes they became latoose intolerant. They .when they were under the age of 5. Both of them would complain of stomach pains with constipation and at times diarrhea. The oldest girl would run to bathroom after eating all the time.she seems to. E always u[Show More]Both of My Daughters 1 born in 1997 and other in 2000,Similac and Enfamil. They had real issues with digesting there food as they grew older. Realizes they became latoose intolerant. They .when they were under the age of 5. Both of them would complain of stomach pains with constipation and at times diarrhea. The oldest girl would run to bathroom after eating all the time.she seems to. E always under weight when doing check ups both of them.shes now 25 she's 5'2 and weight is 108 pounds. She wares petite clothes. 2nd Daughter is 21 yrs old 5'1' she weighs like 105. This after having 2 babies . The eating habits now are haywire. They are both iron deficit and now Anemic. Just like Me there Mom... hmmmm wondering what Milk u was drinking in the 1980 growing up in California.

  • IngridJune 21, 2022 at 4:57 pm

    Orion my 4th child born in 2013 10 months after his brother he cryed for ten months never seemed comfortable and never enjoyed his days I became postpartum due to not being to comfort him he stayed swollen in the stomach region and Dr summed it up to gas and acid reflux issues even when given the meds he still cryed... He cryed so often I called him crying Orion. Ten months into his life I decided[Show More]Orion my 4th child born in 2013 10 months after his brother he cryed for ten months never seemed comfortable and never enjoyed his days I became postpartum due to not being to comfort him he stayed swollen in the stomach region and Dr summed it up to gas and acid reflux issues even when given the meds he still cryed... He cryed so often I called him crying Orion. Ten months into his life I decided to indefinitely take him off of the numourous formula he switched threw it wasn't long 3 days nd Orion stopped crying he had a personality we finally got to see and he took off after this he finally got to play crawl and not long took to taking steps before this Orion just cryed and slept it was definitely no life for baby to be placed in such an uncomfortable position

  • StephanieMay 24, 2022 at 8:21 pm

    I have 5 children, and the first 3 who are now 10, 8, and 3, all have stomach issues. They throw up constantly for no reason. My last 2 are twins born in Oct 2020, one of them seems to not be growing as he should. I am very upset to hear about this because my children have suffered for years, and if it's because of the formula I was told to give them, then that's horrible!! How can these compani[Show More]I have 5 children, and the first 3 who are now 10, 8, and 3, all have stomach issues. They throw up constantly for no reason. My last 2 are twins born in Oct 2020, one of them seems to not be growing as he should. I am very upset to hear about this because my children have suffered for years, and if it's because of the formula I was told to give them, then that's horrible!! How can these companies be so evil!!!???

  • HeatherApril 11, 2022 at 4:17 pm

    I wonder what ages or years because both my boys were born in the mid 90’s they have the worse stomach issues that I’ve ever heard of or seen. My 1st born is worse actually because ever since the day he was born he had such a hard time after giving Similac and Infamil.

  • HeatherApril 11, 2022 at 4:15 pm

    I wonder what ages or years because both my boys were born in the mid 90’s they have the worse stomach issues that I’ve ever heard of or seen. My 1st born is worse actually because ever since the day he was born he had such a hard time after giving Similac and Infamil.

  • TiffineyApril 6, 2022 at 10:26 pm

    My son expired from NEC. How could a 5 week old bare that much pain and trauma. I blamed myself for years, maybe I should have pulled the cord, maybe I should have stayed with him that night a little longer. My son was due to come home in a couple weeks. The next time I saw him, when they called me to the NICU, he was so swollen, I was afraid to touch him because I thought he would burst open. All[Show More]My son expired from NEC. How could a 5 week old bare that much pain and trauma. I blamed myself for years, maybe I should have pulled the cord, maybe I should have stayed with him that night a little longer. My son was due to come home in a couple weeks. The next time I saw him, when they called me to the NICU, he was so swollen, I was afraid to touch him because I thought he would burst open. All the tubes, and the surgery, removing a large portion of his intestines. I have to stop myself from thinking about it because it hurts, and I felt powerless. I hurt for my little baby. Trying to be so strong. NOONE should have to go through so much pain.

  • LourdesMarch 27, 2022 at 2:04 pm

    I wonder how long they can check on the gut damage that caused by taking similac baby milk ? 3 among the family children was taken same baby formula and now grown adults but suffering from gut issues such acidity flare ups and constipation and occasionally vomiting. One of those kids is my own daughter and kinda worried and make me think that it might be associate to the milk she take when she wa[Show More]I wonder how long they can check on the gut damage that caused by taking similac baby milk ? 3 among the family children was taken same baby formula and now grown adults but suffering from gut issues such acidity flare ups and constipation and occasionally vomiting. One of those kids is my own daughter and kinda worried and make me think that it might be associate to the milk she take when she was a baby. At times it was the most expensive and highly recommend baby formula. Being a single Mom, I struggle to get the best for y daughter but I have to do it since that’s the only formula that was best recommend by the pediatrician.

  • RondaFebruary 26, 2022 at 11:57 am

    My baby was born November 14, 2006 and they told us several time that we couldn't hold him for several days but come to find out they told me that he had a hole in the inestines and that they needed to do a emergency surgery because of the hole in his stomach and that they needed to remove the damage intestine and try to treat infection but it was to late my son got the surgery and he didnt make[Show More]My baby was born November 14, 2006 and they told us several time that we couldn't hold him for several days but come to find out they told me that he had a hole in the inestines and that they needed to do a emergency surgery because of the hole in his stomach and that they needed to remove the damage intestine and try to treat infection but it was to late my son got the surgery and he didnt make it because of the infection that was in his stomach.

  • ShaimaFebruary 19, 2022 at 3:19 am

    Need answer

  • TinaFebruary 16, 2022 at 5:48 pm

    I am so sorry for all the grief and loss here. The NICU refused to give my preemie formula and pushed donor milk for this exact reason. I believe somewhere in small print it says not for preemies on the cans. Answers are needed, tragic!

  • EugeneNovember 30, 2021 at 2:53 am

    In 2004 my son was born 1 pound 13 ounces he was in NICU for 4 months during this time he was given enfamil and was diagnosed with NEC he had to have 6 inches of his intestines removed ( because it died ) he went through multiple surgeries the result was devastating he is 17 now and is still having issues.

  • StephanieNovember 3, 2021 at 3:24 am

    We lost our first due to NEC in 2006. He was born at 31 weeks and lived for 31days. The doctors and nurses kept blaming all his symptoms on him being a preemie and I asked for xrays of his stomach but I was told there wasn't any need.

  • KapriceOctober 27, 2021 at 10:47 am

    Need answers

  • BarbaraOctober 1, 2021 at 3:40 am

    My Dougher was on Enfamil and she got bed alerge for whole life and lot of health isue

  • ValkyrieSeptember 27, 2021 at 2:31 am

    I almost lost my 4 month old son, due to a certain kind of enfamil.

  • NellieSeptember 20, 2021 at 7:51 pm

    My twins were born at 37 weeks, they have been in formula from 3 months - 18 months They both had eczema from age 6 months - 3 years. Now they both are allergic to nuts. I believe so it’s due to formula Similac and Enfamil. I’m currently working on fixing their gut. I knew it’s all because of formula and I told that to my Dermatologist. Unfortunately besides steroid creams they didn’t offer anyt[Show More]My twins were born at 37 weeks, they have been in formula from 3 months - 18 months They both had eczema from age 6 months - 3 years. Now they both are allergic to nuts. I believe so it’s due to formula Similac and Enfamil. I’m currently working on fixing their gut. I knew it’s all because of formula and I told that to my Dermatologist. Unfortunately besides steroid creams they didn’t offer anything else.

  • JessicaSeptember 18, 2021 at 4:03 pm

    what year?

  • SergioSeptember 16, 2021 at 2:16 am

    My son suffered from all of the symptoms and he passed away shortly after

Share Your Story With Our Community

I authorize the above comments be posted on this page*

Want your comments reviewed by a lawyer?

To have an attorney review your comments and contact you about a potential case, provide your contact information below. This will not be published.

NOTE: Providing information for review by an attorney does not form an attorney-client relationship.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

More Top Stories