The most dangerous food in your home might not be the raw chicken sitting in your fridge, instead it might be your baby’s formula. If your infant was diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) after consuming Similac or Enfamil formula, you may be entitled to compensation through a lawsuit against the makers of these toxic products.

At Langdon & Emison, our product defect attorneys work hard to hold negligent companies accountable for the damages and injuries they’ve caused, especially the injuries and death caused to babies who were diagnosed with NEC.

Please call us today at (866) 931-2115 or contact us through our website to schedule your free consultation.

Similac, Enfamil, and Premature Infants

Babies born prematurely have very strict nutritional needs because their organs are unable to handle the same substances that other babies might. Although breast milk is generally viewed as the safest and most nutritionally-dense food to support a baby’s healthy development, especially that of a baby who was born prematurely, the reality is that feeding a baby breast milk isn’t an option for every child.

Infant formula is often used when breast milk isn’t an option or isn’t possible, when supplementation to breast milk is needed, and in some instances doctors might suggest exclusively using formula for underweight babies.

In most cases, parents who use formula for their infants use those made by Similac or Enfamil, two of the most popular brands of baby formula in the country, and they usually choose formulas that are made with cow’s milk. The most popular formulas from these brands include:

• Similac Special Care and Special Care 30
• Similac Human Milk Fortifier
• Similac NeoSure
• Enfamil Human Milk Fortifier Powder
• Enfamil NeuroPro Enfacare
• Enfamil Premature 20 Cal, 24 Cal, and 30 Cal

Each of the above products (and dozens more) have been named in lawsuits against manufacturers Similac and Enfamil for potentially causing necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants.

If you fed your baby Similac or Enfamil formula and your baby was diagnosed with NEC, even after death, contact Langdon & Emison immediately. 

What is necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)?

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a serious gastrointestinal disease that most commonly affects premature babies, as 9 out of 10 babies who develop NEC are born premature (before the 37th week of pregnancy).

NEC also mostly affects babies who are fed through a tube in their stomach, and those weighing less than 5.5 pounds at birth. NEC usually develops within two to six weeks after birth, coming on suddenly and usually without warning.

NEC causes bacteria to attack the baby’s intestinal wall, leading to tissue inflammation, tissue death, and perforations (holes) in the intestinal wall, which allows bacteria to pass into the abdomen and bloodstream. 

Premature babies generally have weaker immune systems and are already prone to developing gastrointestinal issues, so NEC can be fatal.

Babies who survive might experience health complications like abdominal failures, developmental delays, and feeding problems. Those children who survive NEC as an infant need several surgeries to resolve and maintain issues caused by NEC.

Infant Formula Found to Be a Main Cause of NEC

Although doctors don’t know the exact cause of NEC, significant evidence points to the consumption of formula derived from cow’s milk as a main cause. 

Cow milk-based baby formula made and marketed by Mead Johnson Nutrition Company (Enfamil) and Abbott Laboratories (Similac) has been linked to an increased chance of NEC.

Although extensive research has been published on the correlation between cow milk-based baby formula and NEC since the 1990s, these companies failed to provide any warning or publication about increased risks of your baby developing NEC.

Both Enfamil and Similac have cow’s milk-based formulas that are designed specifically for preterm babies, marketed as safe options for your baby. Unfortunately, many parents have experienced the devastating reality of the falsity of these claims when their babies suffered painful and often life-threatening complications, and even death, from these formulas, including complications and infant death from NEC.

Baby Formula-Related NEC Lawsuits

Families who have experienced or are still experiencing the devastating effects of NEC have come forward with their stories to hold negligent companies accountable for the suffering and loss they’ve caused with their harmful products.

In April 2022, 16 lawsuits in 7 districts across the country against Mead Johnson Nutrition Company and Abbott Laboratories were consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL)  centralized in Illinois, where both companies have headquarters. 

A multidistrict litigation will help promote an efficient legal process which will allow the affected families to seek and obtain justice much more quickly than on a traditional lawsuit timeline, and it will allow each family to present their evidence to the same judge who will try the cases.

Was Your Baby Diagnosed with NEC? Langdon & Emison Can Help

If your baby developed NEC after being fed milk-based formula, you may be eligible to join the lawsuit and receive compensation and costs for medical care. The statute of limitations (deadline) to bring a lawsuit is different in every state, don’t wait to speak with an experienced Langdon & Emison product defect attorney.

To learn more about joining the lawsuit and for an evaluation of your case, call Langdon & Emison at (866) 931-2115 or schedule your free consultation through our website.

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