Active case
Case Overview
Enfamil lawsuits are being filed in state and federal courts because of an alleged link between cow milk-based Enfamil baby formula and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). A dangerous condition, NEC tends to be more prevalent in premature and low-birth-weight infants on a formula diet rather than breast milk.
Important Enfamil lawsuit updates
- November 2024: At the beginning of the month, there were over 600 pending actions in federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) against baby formula manufacturers Mead Johnson & Company and Abbott Nutrition.
- August 2024: Four federal bellwether trials were scheduled for 2025. Bellwether trials are a small consolidation of lawsuits, predictive of outcomes that plaintiffs and defendants can expect.
- April 2022: Enfamil lawsuits against Mead Johnson were consolidated into MDL 3026 with other infant formula NEC cases.
Key takeaways about Enfamil lawsuits
- Enfamil is a popular brand of cow milk-based baby formula. This type of formula has been linked to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a serious illness in infants.
- Necrotizing enterocolitis is a life-threatening health condition that inflames intestinal tissue, causing the tissue to die. The death rate for babies diagnosed with NEC is as high as 50%.
- Families are suing Mead Johnson for failing to warn parents and doctors about the possibility of this condition in connection with Enfamil.
Why are people filing Enfamil lawsuits?
People are suing Enfamil baby formula manufacturer Mead Johnson based on claims that the cow’s milk-based product increases the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) — a life-threatening gastrointestinal disorder that can affect premature infants.
The lawsuits claim that Mead Johnson didn’t adequately warn parents of the risks associated with NEC. They further allege the company marketed the formula to be a safe alternative to breast milk for premature and low-birth-weight infants. Studies show that marketing aimed at touting a type of formula as “safer” or “better” than breastfeeding impacts how parents view formula products as potential options for their children.
The baby formula lawsuits claim that Mead Johnson knew of the increased risk of NEC but failed to warn parents and doctors of the danger posed to premature infants.
Who makes Enfamil?
Enfamil is made by Mead Johnson Nutrition Company. Mead Johnson, which focuses exclusively on pediatric nutrition, was acquired in a 2017 merger with Reckitt Benckiser Group plc.
Mead Johnson is a global leader in infant formula products, with a sales volume of over $3.7 billion (USD) in 2022. The company markets more than 70 products in more than 50 countries.
What products are involved in the Mead Johnson lawsuits?
The Mead Johnson formula products involved in the NEC lawsuits all contain cow’s milk, including:
- Enfamil 24 and Enfamil DHA & ARA Supplement
- Enfamil Human Milk Fortifier Acidified Liquid
- Enfamil Liquid Human Milk Fortifier High Protein
- Enfamil Human Milk Fortifier Powder
- Enfamil Liquid Human Milk Fortifier Standard Protein
- Enfamil NeuroPro EnfaCare
- Enfamil Premature
How is Enfamil harming infants?
Cow’s milk-based formulas like Enfamil have been associated with an increased risk of a serious gastrointestinal disorder called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). This is a serious condition that mostly affects premature and low-birth-weight infants.
What is necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)?
NEC is a dangerous condition that causes inflammation in intestinal tissues, resulting in the death of the tissue. Some infants recover and have few symptoms. Others develop life-threatening perforations in their intestines, allowing bacteria to leak into the abdomen. In some cases, NEC is fatal.
NEC is most common in premature infants, especially those who were born before the 37th week of pregnancy or weigh less than 5.5 pounds. Studies also suggest that premature infants fed formula also are at an increased risk.
The symptoms of NEC resemble those of other digestive issues and may include:
- Abdominal pain, swelling or bloating
- Changes in heart rate, breathing or blood pressure
- Diarrhea with blood in the stool
- Fever
- Lack of appetite or difficulty feeding
- Lethargy
- Vomiting with green or yellow vomit
Is there an Enfamil class action lawsuit?
Up to this point, no Enfamil formula class action lawsuit has been filed. However, there is multidistrict litigation (MDL) — including Enfamil lawsuits filed against Mead Johnson — that consolidates all baby formula lawsuits linked to NEC.
A class action lawsuit involves a single (or small group of) named plaintiff whose case is representative of all cases against one or multiple named defendants. That case is litigated on behalf of the entire group, or “class.” Any award is divided among all members of the class.
Multidistrict litigation consolidates many individual lawsuits against a defendant. In an MDL, each case may be slightly different. By consolidating the cases, all litigants — including the defendants — agree to establish common facts in the cases and streamline the pre-trial processes.
All litigation involving Enfamil and NEC has been included in In re: Abbott Laboratories, et al., Preterm Infant Nutrition Products Liability Litigation MDL No. 3026. These cases are being heard in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, but parents and litigants don’t have to reside in Illinois to join the case.
The MDL also includes claims against Abbott Laboratories for similar NEC cases that instead pertain to Similac baby formula. As of November 1, 2024, the MDL docket featured over 600 pending cases.
Contact an attorney specializing in baby formula lawsuits
You may have a claim if your premature baby developed NEC after consuming a cow milk-based formula.
Contact medical attorneys Laura Stemkowski or Carmen Scott by email or call 1.800.768.4026 for more information.
Did Mead Johnson recall Enfamil?
Mead Johnson hasn’t recalled any Enfamil products related to the NEC lawsuits. These Enfamil products are currently on the market.
However, Mead Johnson voluntarily recalled one type of Enfamil product because of possible bacterial contamination in January 2024. The FDA published a December 31, 2023, company announcement from Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition about Enfamil Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Infant Formula Powder.
The bacteria, Cronobacter sakazakii, can cause life-threatening infections like sepsis and meningitis. No bacteria were found in any samples, but the company recalled the product out of an abundance of caution.
Frequently asked questions about Enfamil formula lawsuits
Can I sue Mead Johnson for making my child sick?
You may be eligible to file a lawsuit against Mead Johnson if your child developed necrotizing enterocolitis after consuming Enfamil formula. A knowledgeable attorney can review your case and determine if you’re a good candidate to file a lawsuit.
What are the payouts for the NEC lawsuit?
Payouts, or damages, in an NEC baby formula lawsuit depend on the nature of the harm and the degree of exposure to the harmful formula. For instance, the parents of a baby who suffered a minor illness from a single formula feeding could end up receiving a smaller payment than one received by the parents of an infant who suffered a severe case of NEC and ultimately died.
Damages in an Enfamil lawsuit may include:
- Burial costs
- Emotional suffering of the parents
- Lost wages for parents who had to stay with their infant
- Medical costs for treatment
- Pain and suffering for the baby
- Wrongful death
As part of an Enfamil lawsuit settlement in March 2024, a court awarded one woman $60 million against Mead Johnson. No legal case offers a guaranteed amount in compensation, which always depends on the facts of the individual case.
How do I file a lawsuit against Enfamil?
The first step toward filing an Enfamil lawsuit is contacting an attorney. A toxic baby formula attorney can delve into the details of your situation and determine if you’re well-positioned to file a lawsuit. If so, your attorney will help you gather any necessary information and file the case within the statutes of limitations.
Our experience helping families and children
Motley Rice attorneys have worked for decades to seek justice for children and families affected by toxic and otherwise dangerous exposures. Our team’s experiences include:
- Representing parents of children with birth defects allegedly resulting from medical drugs like Zofran, Effexor and Zoloft
- Negotiating a $305 million settlement to pay for lead paint cleanup and abatement efforts in 10 California communities
- Representing parents whose children consumed dangerously high levels of lead in apple-cinnamon fruit pouches made by WanaBana, Schnucks and Weis Markets
Learn more about our toxic exposure litigation experience.
Important Enfamil lawsuit updates
Key takeaways
Why are people filing Enfamil lawsuits?
How is Enfamil harming infants?
Is there an Enfamil class action lawsuit?
Did Mead Johnson recall Enfamil?
Frequently asked questions about Enfamil formula lawsuits
Our experience helping families and children
About the Author
Laura K. Stemkowski
Associate
Laura Stemkowski advocates for victims harmed by medical drugs and devices and corporate misconduct, with a focus on women’s health.
- Sources
- Cleveland Clinic. Necrotizing Enterocolitis.
- Mead Johnson. Company Page.
- NAICS Association. Mead Johnson Profile Page.
- National Library of Medicine. Beyond Necrotizing Enterocolitis Prevention: Improving Outcomes with an Exclusive Human Milk-Based Diet.
- National Library of Medicine. Breast milk and neonatal necrotising enterocolitis.
- National Library of Medicine. Digital marketing of formula and baby food negatively influences breast feeding and complementary feeding.
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Necrotizing Enterocolitis: What You Need to Know.
- Reuters. Reckitt unit hit with $60 million verdict in Enfamil baby formula case in Illinois.
- Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. Necrotizing Enterocolitis in the Newborn.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition Voluntarily Recalls Select Batches of Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Infant Formula Powder Because of Possible Health Risk.
- United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. MDL Report Date: 10/1/24 MDL Statistics Report - Distribution of Pending MDL Dockets by Actions Pending.