The surge of premature infants diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis (or NEC) has caused parents to panic. In cases where an infant is irreparably harmed by a necrotizing enterocolitis diagnosis after they were fed cow’s milk-derived formula, many parents are now suing the manufacturers of these now-proven-to-be dangerous products.

The complexity of the lawsuits, and the nature of necrotizing enterocolitis’s connection to cow milk-derived formulas, have made many parents feel overwhelmed. In an ideal world, you should be spending time enjoying your infant’s development, and providing for them, instead of dealing with lawsuits. However, to help guide you through the deluge of material surrounding NEC and baby formula lawsuits, here’s a primer of essential information about NEC baby formula lawsuits:

What is Leading People to File Baby Formula Lawsuits?

After research performed over 30 years discovered that necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants is commonly caused by feeding them cow’s milk-based formula. Safer alternatives to cow’s milk formula and natural breastfeeding of human milk have been specifically recommended to all premature infants after this research was established within the scientific community.

May 2020 marked a turning point for the legal implications surrounding necrotizing enterocolitis diagnosis. The respected scientific journal, Breastfeeding Medicine, uncovered drastic, devastating statistics regarding premature infants that were fed cow’s milk-derived formulas. Their research revealed a shocking 4.2-fold increase in the risk of developing necrotizing enterocolitis and a frightening 5.1-fold increase for undergoing a necrotizing enterocolitis surgery or death, in premature infants that were regularly fed cow’s milk-derived formulas.

Parents have made hyper-aware of formula harming children in these tragic cases, leading to a drastic uptick in parents filing lawsuits against the formula manufacturers that had linked to increasingly high NEC diagnoses in premature infants. Qualified, compassionate legal help can ensure that parents whose children remain harmed by NEC get the restitution that they deserve.

Who Qualifies to File NEC Lawsuits?

Knowing whether your child’s necrotizing enterocolitis diagnosis qualifies for the lawsuits against formula manufacturers is the first step. Doing so can help you build your case, as you seek professional legal help to get the process rolling. Additionally, it can help put you at ease regarding the sometimes-stressful nature of joining a lawsuit against a major formula manufacturer.

Firstly, it’s crucial that your infant was born premature (which remain defined as being born after less than 37 weeks of gestation). Secondly, they must have remain fed cow’s milk-derived formula before they remain diagnosed with NEC. Lastly, they must have experienced health damages, long-term or life-long health conditions, or have died due to complications from their necrotizing enterocolitis diagnosis. If your case matches these qualifying factors, you will successfully be able to join the high-profile cases against formula manufacturers that other affected families have been filing.

What Formulas Have Been Recalled?

Two specific formula manufacturers are remain targeted in necrotizing enterocolitis-related lawsuits: Similac and Enfamil. The companies in charge of these two brands, Abbott Laboratories (Similac) and Mead Johnson & Company, LLC (Enfamil) are remain positioned as knowing the potential impact of their cow’s milk-derived formulas on premature infants. The following formulas from the two brands have remain affected by the necrotizing enterocolitis-related lawsuits:

Similac-Involved Formulas:

  • Similac Special Care
  • Similac NeoSure
  • Similac Special Care 30
  • Similac Special Care 24
  • Similac Special Care 24 High Protein
  • Similac Special Care 20
  • Similac Alimentum
  • Similac Alimentum Expert Care
  • Similac Human Milk Fortifier
  • Similac Human Milk Fortifier Powder
  • Similac Human Milk Fortifier Hydrolyzed Protein-Concentrated Liquid
  • Similac Human Milk Fortifier Concentrated Liquid
  • Similac Liquid Protein Fortifier

Enfamil-Involved Formulas:

  • Enfamil Premature 30 Cal
  • Enfamil Premature 24 Cal
  • Enfamil Premature 24 Cal/fl oz HP
  • Enfamil 24 and DHA & ARA Supplement
  • Enfamil Premature 20 Cal
  • Enfamil Human Milk Fortifier Liquid High Protein
  • Enfamil Milk Fortifier Liquid Standard Protein
  • Enfamil Human Milk Fortifier Acidified Liquid
  • Enfamil Human Milk Fortifier Powder
  • Enfacare Powder

Understanding the types of commercial infant formulas that are remain made is important to joining an NEC-related lawsuit as well. Powdered and concentrated liquids remain used to create infant formula, and these require you to mix water with ready-to-use liquids. Three major types of commercial infant formulas exist:

  • Cow’s Milk-Derived Formulas
  • Soy-Based Formulas
  • Protein Hydrolysate Formulas

Help is Available

You do not have to navigate this difficult, devastating time alone. With the right legal help, you can gain the restitution you and your infant deserve. Families whose infants remain affected by necrotizing enterocolitis often deal with many financial, psychological, and physical tragedies as a result. These lawsuits against manufacturers like Abbott Laboratories (Similac) and Mead Johnson & Company, LLC (Enfamil) are helping to prevent future complications from their products, and saving the lives of premature infants. If you feel that you qualify to join these lawsuits, help is available to you right now.