Whether you are millennial parents or from an older generation, as parents of an infant, you want your kid to be healthy, have a good appetite, have healthy sleep, and have a lot of fun. Pregnancy issues are becoming more common as a result of parents’ improper and hectic lifestyles today. Moreover, many mothers face problems with nursing their baby, or they decide not to, which is perfectly alright. Many moms decide to use baby formulas or mix their breast milk with baby formula.
But, it is important to know that recently, two of the most well-liked baby formulas on the market were sued. One was Enfamil by Mead Johnson and company, and the other was Similac by Abbott laboratories.
If you are a parent with an infant and are considering a baby formula for your newborn, here is all you need to know about the Similac and Enfamil lawsuit.
What is Necrotizing enterocolitis?
There can be negative effects to all baby formulas, such as an upset stomach. However, a potentially fatal condition called Necrotizing enterocolitis can be brought on by cow’s milk formula.
If not diagnosed early, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), an illness of the intestines, can become fatal. NEC can affect either the full thickness of the intestinal tract or just the lining. Intestinal tissue destruction brought on by NEC may result in a void in the intestines that would otherwise prevent germs present in the intestine from entering the abdominal cavity.
The chances of premature babies fed with cow’s milk formula suffering from NEC are higher compared to normal healthy babies.
If you observe any of the following symptoms, please rush your baby to the hospital and get them checked.
- Your baby is not able to digest food.
- There is a change in the frequency and volume of their stool.
- One of the visible symptoms is a decoloration of the abdomen region and/or stomach(red or blue), and another is a swelling belly.
- If your baby appears to be in pain on touching his abdominal region.
- Blood in the stool.
- Babies are very energetic. If your baby shows a lack of energy, it is possible that he/she is not well (also one of the symptoms of NEC).
- Vomiting and diarrhea.
What are the Similac and Enfamil lawsuits about?
In the first half of the year 2022, many parents found out about the NEC-causing cow milk formula used in reputed baby formulas like Similac and Enfamil. The Similac and Enfamil lawsuits are filed by parents of babies who were troubled by the cow milk formula. The lawsuit is not only because of the NEC-causing formula but because the companies failed to give a warning on their products that didn’t clearly state it could cause diseases like NEC. It is a case of product liability. Any branded product needs to provide warnings to the customers if there are any side effects of it. These baby formulas failed to put up any warning, nor did they call off the product on their own after the lawsuits were being filed.
How can I file a lawsuit?
If your baby has suffered from severe intestinal inflammation after consuming Enfamil and/or Similac baby formula, you should consider conducting a test to find out if it is NEC. If yes, then you can file a lawsuit against the company to make them take responsibility for your loss and demand compensation.
Filing a lawsuit against such big fishes in the industry is not easy. We suggest you take help from a reputed product liability lawyer to help you out. The lawyers will help you file a successful lawsuit and get the compensation you deserve. This compensation will help you cover your baby’s healthcare expenses.
It’s vital to note that the Enfamil claims are still in their initial stages, even though the initial complaints against Mead Johnson were submitted more than two years ago. Even then, we urge all the parents whose baby has suffered from NEC to file a lawsuit. Since the connection between Similac, Enfamil, and NEC has been proved, the lawsuit’s final verdict is more likely to be in your favor.
Bottom line
Cases of brands not informing customers about the potential side effects of their products are not new. Many such lawsuits have been filed, and the citizens have received compensation for their losses. Nursing babies can sometimes be a problem, especially for busy moms. Mothers trust brands like Enfamil and Similac when they decide to use their baby formula instead of breast milk. Such reputed companies using a baby formula that can cause a fatal disease like Necrotizing enterocolitis cannot be forgiven.
