Enfamil Lawsuit

Parents of babies who developed necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) after ingesting dairy-based Enfamil are suing manufacturer Mead Johnson. The suits allege the company didn’t warn consumers about the risk of NEC associated with cow’s milk-based infant formulas.

Bellwether trials are scheduled to begin in 2025. These serve as test cases and can determine whether plaintiffs have a compelling case for damages. These trials can help shape potential settlements.

Because claims against Mead Johnson in NEC baby formula lawsuits are similar to those against Similac manufacturer Abbott Laboratories, plaintiffs sought consolidation into multidistrict litigation (MDL). This practice combines similar cases from around the country to simplify the legal process.

As of March 2025 a total of 663 baby formula lawsuits have been filed in the federal MDL. Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Rebecca R. Pallmeyer oversees the MDL.

Plaintiffs in the MDL contend that both Mead and Abbott knew about NEC risks but promoted their dairy-based infant nutrition products to families and the medical community without warnings. They also claim that the risk was not explained on product labels.

While Enfamil and Similar manufacturers are involved in the same MDL, other Similac lawsuits are unrelated to NEC. These separate suits are connected to bacterial contamination in Similac baby formula.

The contamination lawsuits were filed in 2022 following formula recalls and a nationwide formula shortage. Enfamil is not involved.

The parents of infants given Enfamil’s dairy-based formula who later developed NEC are suing Mead Johnson for medical expenses and damages. In some cases, infants died after developing NEC linked to the baby formula.

Shennice Joseph, for example, alleges that her premature infant was given Enfamil cow’s milk formula in the neonatal intensive care unit at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Egleston Hospital. After consuming the formula, the child developed NEC and later died of renal failure. Joseph is suing Mead Johnson for more than $75,000 in damages.

After her son contracted NEC, Octavia Patton-Ashley sued Mead Johnson and Abbott Laboratories. She says she wasn’t aware of the risk and used the product because of a doctor’s recommendation.

Her lawsuit alleges that both formula manufacturers withheld information from doctors that may have prevented their formula recommendations. Patton-Ashley’s baby died after care in the Children’s Hospital in Colorado.

A study funded by the National Institutes of Health and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in September 2024 revealed that highly preterm infants who received donated human milk experienced half the rate of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) compared to those who were fed formula (4.2% versus 9%).

This research included 483 infants born before 29 weeks of gestation or with a birth weight under 1,000 grams. Researchers suggest their findings provide robust scientific evidence supporting the use of donor human milk to lower the risk of NEC in extremely preterm infants.

The Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Infants Working Group outlined several key research priorities to combat the disease in their report published in September 2024. One major focus is expanding research on feeding practices that may influence the risk of NEC. This includes identifying the optimal nutritional needs of premature infants to ensure they receive the best possible care.

Additionally, there is a strong emphasis on increasing research support for parents to enhance their milk production and improve lactation techniques. Understanding the impact of donor and parental milk collection, processing, storage and dispensing methods on its nutritional content and intestinal health is also crucial.

The working group stressed the importance of supporting large clinical trials investigating feeding practices and their correlation with the risk of NEC. They acknowledged that NEC has multiple associated risk factors and highlighted the urgent need for research to boost milk production, optimize the beneficial components in human milk, and address disparities in access to donor milk.

If your infant contracted NEC after ingesting Enfamil dairy-based infant formula, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Filing an Enfamil lawsuit may help you recover money spent on medical treatments or lost wages, and you may receive compensation for emotional hardship.

A free case review with an experienced attorney can help determine your eligibility. They can help you file and manage your Enfamil lawsuit if you pursue legal action.

Dairy-based Enfamil baby formula products can be named in Enfamil lawsuits. Enfamil baby formula products include supplement formulas and human milk fortifiers and may come in liquid or powder formulations.

Speak with your child’s doctor or pediatrician if you have concerns about these products. You may consider filing an Enfamil baby formula lawsuit if your child developed NEC after using any of these Mead Johnson formula products.