Many parents in the U.S. rely on baby formula to ensure their little ones receive optimal nutrition. Baby formula is made to replicate the nutritional qualities of breast milk. Hence, it attempts to provide carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, and fats that newborns require to grow healthily.
However, manufactured formulas don’t have the antibodies present in breast milk. That means they cannot provide extra protection against ailments and infections. Some side effects of toddler formula include a runny nose, stomach upset, and eczema.
In some cases, it can also cause premature babies to suffer from NEC (necrotizing enterocolitis), an intestinal disease that may lead to death. Over 675,000 cans of renowned baby formula products have been recalled because of contamination with fatal bacteria. Also, there are lawsuits against leading infant formulas like Similac because of their side effects.
Therefore, parents must know about the health hazards of baby formulas to protect their infants. Also, there is a need for adequate warnings, so that both the medical community and people are aware of the dark side of toddler formula.
Understanding NEC and its Symptoms
NEC is a severe gastrointestinal disease where the intestinal tissues get inflamed and destroyed. The risk is prevalent in babies weighing less than two pounds during birth.
Your baby might develop a perforation or hole in their intestine. The bacteria can leak into the bloodstream or abdomen via the hole. Infants develop this disease within two to six weeks after birth.
The common symptoms of NEC in premature babies are:
- Lethargy.
- Abdominal swelling and pain.
- Irregular heart rate, breathing patterns, body temperature, and low blood pressure.
- Yellow or green vomit.
- Diarrhea with a bloody stool.
- Not being able to consume food.
Nearly one in 1,000 prematurely born infants is affected by NEC. The Mead Johnson/Abbott Laboratories Preterm Infant Nutrition Products MDL witnessed an increase in cases in August 2024. There are 538 active NEC lawsuits in federal court.
TorHoerman Law states that a class action lawsuit against Abbott Laboratories got settled for an amount of $19.5 million. This was for faulty advertising of Similac’s baby formula. However, settlements concerning NEC are still being processed.
But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek legal advice if your baby develops NEC after being fed with baby formula. An expert lawyer can help you file a lawsuit and obtain your compensatory amount to cover the losses.
Other Side Effects of Infant Formula
According to a Drugwatch article in July 2024, baby formula can have side effects other than NEC. Food allergy symptoms such as vomiting, hives, and swelling of the throat and mouth are medical emergencies. These signs can surface in infants within a few weeks of starting cow’s milk-based toddler formula.
The bacteria, Cronobacter sakazakii, might pollute baby formula during the manufacturing process or while it’s prepared at home. In February 2022, Abbott recalled specific lots of its Alimentum, EleCare, and Similac formulas after a few complaints of Cronobacter infection.
Similac’s Human Milk Fortifier and NeoSure Under the Legal Scanner
In June 2023, AboutLawsuits.com shared Tess Wallace’s tragic story of how her premature baby suffered from NEC after being fed with Similac’s ‘Human Milk Fortifier’. It’s a cow’s milk-based toddler formula.
Wallace filed a Similac lawsuit in the Northern District of Illinois. Her complaint revealed that the manufacturer was aware of the potential health hazards of Similac for premature babies.
In her lawsuit, she also alleged that Abbott Laboratories ruled out such medical and scientific proof that established cows’ milk-based fortifiers and baby formulas are harmful to preterm babies. Instead, they kept marketing infant formula products as a safe alternative to breastmilk.
Another mother in Lagos, Nigeria said advertisements compelled her to invest in toddler formula. She was one of the 8,500 mothers interviewed for a 2022 report, ‘How Marketing of Formula Milk Influences Our Decisions on Infant Feeding’. This was released by UNICEF and the World Health Organization.
In 2022, AboutLawsuits.com also reported that Chakoya Robinson and Darius Medly, parents of a child below 18 years, alleged that Similac Neosure made their preterm baby develop NEC. The baby was kept in the neonatal intensive care unit and was fed NeoSure. As a result, he suffered from ongoing and extreme developmental delays and bowel problems.
Even Medly and Robinson alleged that the manufacturers should have issued warnings, which could have prevented this tragic incident.
Need for Warnings, FDA in Action
In August 2023, The Hill reported on the FDA issuing warning letters to three baby formula manufacturers for violating federal safety regulations. Perrigo Wisconsin, Mead Johnson Nutrition, and ByHeart received letters after the agency inspected their facilities. It recalled a few of their products for health issues linked to Cronobacter sakazakii.
As a part of its standard regulations, the FDA has been issuing warning letters. The goal is to make such firms realize the importance of implementing correct actions when they notice pathogens. It will help them comply with the laws and regulations of the FDA.
Donald Prater, the acting director of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition in the FDA, said that the agency is working towards recognizing and responding to problems early. It will prevent product recalls that might lead to baby formula shortages.
The letters issued by the FDA urge manufacturers to implement safe manufacturing practices. This will instill confidence in parents and the medical community to use baby formula products. Also, if a manufacturer has solid evidence that their infant formula product can cause harm to premature babies, they shouldn’t conceal it either. Issuing a warning can help save the lives of many infants.
To sum up, over the years, parents have been attracted to the compelling marketing tactics used by baby formula manufacturers. However, the recent flurry of lawsuits and anecdotal accounts about NEC and other side effects of infant formula have made them cautious. It is necessary to conduct research on baby formula brands before opting for one. Also, consult your doctor before arriving at a final decision so that your baby is safe.
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