Deadly Baby Food? Similac, Enfamil Named in Exploding NEC Lawsuits 

 
Fragile premature babies in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) developed a life-threatening intestinal disease called necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), and hundreds of U.S. families now allege that cowmilk-based formulas like Similac and Enfamil contributed to their babies’ suffering. 

This isn’t just a tragic medical story, it’s turning into a full-blown mass tort. 

What the Lawsuits Say: The Heart of the Matter 

1. The Claim: Parents argue that the manufacturers, Abbott (Similac) and Mead Johnson / Reckitt (Enfamil), knew about the risk of NEC but failed to adequately warn NICUs, doctors, or families.  

1. The Science: NEC is a dangerous disease that causes tissue in the intestines to die. Premature infants, especially those fed cow’s-milk formulas, are at a much higher risk.  

1. What’s Being Alleged: That cow-milk-based formula, sold in the name of “nutrition,” may actually be increasing risk, and that safer alternatives (like human milk or donor milk) weren’t promoted aggressively when they perhaps should’ve been.  

These lawsuits have already cost companies hundreds of millions: 

1. In Missouri (2024), a jury awarded $495 million to a family, concluding that Abbott’s Similac Special Care 24 formula contributed to their baby’s NEC. This included $400 million in punitive damages, showing that the jury aimed to punish the company, not just compensate the family. 

1. In Illinois (March 2025), another case resulted in a $60 million verdict after a child died following Enfamil formula feeding, highlighting the serious financial stakes for manufacturers. 

1. Despite these verdicts, no global settlement has been announced, leaving the door open for more lawsuits and significant potential liability. 

These past verdicts demonstrate that courts are taking NEC claims seriously, sending a strong warning to formula makers worldwide. 

Current Status: What’s Happening in Court 

1. MDL CENTRALIZATION 

1. Over 700+ lawsuits are consolidated under MDL 3026 in the Northern District of Illinois.  

1. Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer is presiding, and she’s made a critical decision: expert testimony linking these formulas to NEC will be admitted.  

2. BELLWETHER TRIALS 

1. These are test cases that set the tone. Abbott and Mead Johnson have already defended several, with mixed outcomes.  

1. A major trial focusing on Enfamil is scheduled for February 2026.  

3. SCIENTIFIC CLASHES

1. Plaintiffs rely on neonatologists and epidemiologists to argue cow’s-milk increases NEC risk.  

1. Defendants say the evidence isn’t conclusive and argue that many NICU decisions wouldn’t have changed even if warning labels were stronger. 

Final Word 

The NEC-formula litigation is turning heads, and not just in legal circles. It’s a stark reminder that even products we trust deeply, like baby formula, can carry hidden risks, particularly for the most vulnerable. With hundreds of lawsuits underway and judges allowing expert scientific testimony, this could become one of the most significant productliability battles of the decade. 

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