When a baby is born preterm, special attention and nourishment are often required to maintain their growing bodies and body organs and compensate for their low birth weights. Often, medical professionals will urge parents of preemies (a baby born prematurely) to feed their babies baby formula during the first few months of their lives, but new evidence suggests that some types of infant formula can trigger necrotizing enterocolitis, a life-threatening intestinal illness.

To make things even worse, certain baby formula makers, such as Mead Johnson and Abbott Laboratories, have failed to include this life-threatening negative impact on their formula's labels, therefore placing more infants at risk.

Abbott Laboratories and Mead Johnson have an obligation to guarantee that their drugs are safe before they are sold, particularly when they are used to benefit preterm infants. Tragically, they acted irresponsibly, and families all over the country have had to deal with the loss of their children due to a supposedly harmless product.

If your baby has suffered health problems because of their infant formulas, you may be eligible for compensation. You can seek compensation for your losses by taking legal action against these manufacturers or joining a class-action lawsuit against them.

What is the Connection Between Baby Formula and NEC?

Premature babies often need special dietary plans. Human breast milk, donor's milk (that is milk given by another nursing mother), or non-milk cow's based supplementary formula is the best feeding option for premature babies. For preemies, human milk is more easily digestible than cow's milk. Human milk is rich in elements that contribute to combating infections and help in the maturation of intestinal cells.

However, in certain circumstances, neonatologists or doctors may advise introducing cow's milk infant formula to supplement breast milk. Enfamil and Similac are two popular cow's milk-based infant formula products.

However, Enfamil and Similac infant formulas are purportedly linked to a disease called NEC when fed to preterm infants. This health condition results in the death of intestinal tissues and can result in other major health issues. NEC can also be lethal in some situations.

Premature infants who are given cow's milk-based infant formulas (also known as bovine-based baby formulas in the medical world) have a much higher likelihood of developing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) than preterm infants who are given pure breast milk, according to studies.

According to many health institutions, "extremely premature infants provided with donor milk have a reduced chance of developing the severe intestinal illness, necrotizing enterocolitis, than infants fed regular premature baby formula produced from cows' milk." Countless research studies have verified similar conclusions throughout the last decade.

Unfortunately, the producers of the bay formulas were aware of the elevated risk of premature newborns developing NEC after using their cow's milk-based infant formulas and failed to warn parents and doctors. Sadly, many premature infants have developed significant injuries and some have even died as a result of the manufacturer’s negligence.

Baby Formulas Linked With NEC

The following are some of the infant formulas that may be associated with a heightened incidence of NEC in preemies:

  • Similac Special Care

  • Similac NeoSure

  • Similac Human Milk Fortifier

  • Similac Special Care 24

  • Similac Human Milk Fortifier Powder

  • Similac Special Care 20

  • Similac Liquid Protein Fortifier

  • Enfacare Powder

  • Enfamil NeuroPro Enfacare

  • Enfamil Human Milk Fortifier Powder

Infant Formula Manufacturers Failed to Warn Consumers About the Risk of NEC

Parents are bringing action against Similac and Enfamil manufacturers, alleging that they knew that their baby formulas could trigger necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm newborns. Manufacturers failed to alert parents as well as medical practitioners about the potential risk of using the formulas.

NEC is a severe gastrointestinal illness that results in the death of the affected intestinal tissues and can be deadly in up to 50% of patients. It triggers intestinal inflammation, which can lead to gut perforations. When the intestines have been affected, bacteria can seep into the infant's abdomen or bloodstream, resulting in severe illness or even death.

According to studies dating back at least thirty years ago, NEC is allegedly more common in premature newborns who were given cow's milk-based infant formula rather than breast milk.

A study published in The Lancet in 1990 found that formula-fed newborns were 6 to 10 times more likely than breastfed babies to suffer from NEC. As per baby formula complaints, several more research studies have since related cow's milk-based infant formula to an increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis in premature babies.

According to a 2015 report, children with exceptionally low birth weights who were fed breast milk had a 50% lower likelihood of developing NEC. According to the findings, breast milk has anti-inflammatory properties and reduces the likelihood of dangerous pathogens infiltrating the digestive system of premature newborns.

Researchers discovered in a Cochrane analysis in 2019 that giving premature newborns formula boosts development rates during their hospital stay, "although it is linked to an increased risk of suffering from a severe gut illness known as necrotizing enterocolitis.

Undeterred by this and numerous other studies with similar findings, the manufacturers did not alter their goods, marketing, recommendations, instructions, or precautions. In reality, several of their baby formula products are still marketed as being specifically designed for premature babies.

Meanwhile, scientific improvements have resulted in the development of alternate formulations and fortifiers produced from human breast milk or non-bovine-based formulas, but the manufacturers still failed to redesign their infant formulas to match these advancements.

Many plaintiffs allege that if they were aware of any of these consequences, they wouldn't have let their children have the cow's milk infant formulas. They are taking legal action against the manufacturer for negligence and failing to issue any kind of warning for their defective products.

What is Necrotizing Enterocolitis?

Necrotizing enterocolitis is a potentially deadly bacterial condition that can affect a preterm infant's intestinal tissues. NEC causes inflammation and eventually the death of intestinal tissues. NEC causes holes or perforations in the gut as it spreads from within to the outside of the intestinal wall.

When NEC has already caused perforations in the intestinal walls, pathogenic bacteria from the gut will then flow into the infant's abdominal cavity. When this happens, the bacteria can quickly move into the bloodstream and cause sepsis, which can be lethal. About 15% of newborns with NEC die as a result of this condition.

NEC is an uncommon disease that mostly affects premature babies who are given formula rather than breast milk. Premature newborns are more vulnerable to developing NEC as compared to full-term newborns since their respiratory systems and intestines are not fully developed. For this reason, premature babies may find it extremely difficult to fight off infections.

Symptoms of NEC

Based on the nature and cause, NEC usually appears 2 to 6 days after delivery. Symptoms may arise gradually over several days or suddenly in infants who look to be in good health.

Necrotizing enterocolitis is a common topic in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The practitioners who look after your child should be on alert for symptoms of this condition. The symptoms include:

  • A bloated stomach

  • Food that does not pass through the intestinal tissues and instead remains in the intestine

  • Stomach filled with green liquid

  • Bloody stools

  • A low heart rate, a lack of energy, and difficulties breathing

A physician may conduct a blood test as well as an X-ray of the baby's abdomen to confirm if the baby has NEC. The blood test could reveal a low count of white blood cells, indicating that the newborn does not have a strong immunological response to combat infections.

The X-ray could detect air pockets in the child's intestinal lining. A doctor may also stick a needle into the infant's belly to see whether any fluid flows out. If a liquid flows out, it means that there is a perforation in the intestines.

Even when it isn't fatal, NEC could have long-term health effects on the newborn. Surgery is required in about 50% of all NEC patients to eliminate damaged intestinal tissues. This can cause "short bowel syndrome," which can affect the infant's development and growth.

NEC can result in issues like infections, intestinal constriction, short gut syndrome, and growth retardation. Even if none of these significant complications arise, a newborn who has developed NEC will certainly require IV supplements to boost their nutrition.

As stated by the Cleveland Clinic, one out of every four kids with NEC will require surgery to remove a portion of their intestines because of dead tissues. Premature newborns have reportedly sustained serious damage after consuming Similac or Enfamil cow's milk-based infant formulas, and some have died. Many parents have filed a lawsuit against the baby formula makers, alleging that they were never warned about the dangers.

Join a Free Preemie Baby Formula Side Effects Mass Tort Near Me

If your child acquired NEC as a result of using infant formula, you could be able to sue the manufacturers. Because NEC caused by these baby formulas is the result of a failure to alert their consumers, manufacturers must be held accountable for the damages they have caused. You can claim restitution by pursuing an individual claim or joining a mass tort against the manufacturers along with other victims.

It is critical to get expert advice if you hope to make a successful claim. At Consumer Alert Now, we will walk you through the claims procedure and link you with the best legal specialists. Call us at 800-511-0747 today.