Enfamil lawsuits have been filed after premature babies died or were injured by Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC), which is an intestinal disease that is linked to cow-milk baby formula.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Enfamil induced injury cases in all 50 states. If your baby was diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) after being given Enfamil baby formula, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Baby Formula Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
UPDATE: $60 Million Awarded to Parents in 1st Enfamil NEC Trial
In March 2024, a jury in Illinois awarded $60 million to the parents of a premature baby who died of an intestinal infection called Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) after he was fed Enfamil infant formula in the hospital. Click here to read more.
Enfamil ProSobee Plant-Based Baby Formula Recall
In February 2023, Reckitt voluntarily recalled 145,000 cans of Enfamil ProSobee Baby Formula due to a risk of cross-contamination with Cronobacter sakazakii, a bacteria that can cause severe, life-threatening infections.
The recall involves two batches of EnFamil ProSobee Simply Plant-Based Infant Formula (12.9-oz. cans). The bottom of the can is marked with batch codes ZL2HZF or ZL2HZZ, and with both a UPC Code of 300871214415 and a Use-By Date of “1 Mar 2024.”
Enfamil Lawsuits Centralized in Federal Court
In April 2022, dozens of baby formula lawsuits for Similac and Enfamil were centralized into a single federal court. In the future, NEC baby formula lawsuits will be centralized into a Multi-District Litigation (MDL No. 3026) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois under Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer — IN RE: Abbott Laboratories, et al., Preterm Infant Nutrition Products Liability Litigation.
What is Enfamil?
Enfamil® is a brand of cow’s-milk infant formula that is manufactured by Mead Johnson, a subsidiary of Reckitt. Enfamil is made by breaking down the cow’s milk protein to make it easier to digest, adding milk sugar (lactose), replacing butterfat with vegetable oils, and adding other vitamins and minerals.
Enfamil and Necrotizing Enterocolitis
Premature babies may not be able to digest Enfamil (or any other cow’s-milk baby formula, such as Similac), which can result in severe intestinal inflammation that progresses into a deadly case of Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC).
What is the Problem?
Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) is a life-threatening side effect of Enfamil, especially for premature babies — but the label on Enfamil does not include a single warning about NEC. Instead of warning parents about the risk, many types of Enfamil are advertised specifically for premature babies.
Doctors May Recommend Enfamil for Premature Babies
Premature babies (“preemies”) may not be coordinated enough to breastfeed effectively, but they need extra calories to grow — so many doctors will recommend giving them Enfamil, or a mixture of Enfamil and breastmilk. Unfortunately, many parents are never warned about the risk of NEC.
Enfamil for Premature Babies
Here are some types of Enfamil that are marketed specifically for use in premature babies or low-birth-weight babies:
- Enfamil NeuroPro EnfaCare Infant Formula
- Enfamil Premature Infant Formula 24 Cal High Protein
- Enfamil Premature Infant Formula 30 Cal with Iron
- Enfamil Premature Infant Formula 24 Cal with Iron
- Enfamil Premature Infant Formula 20 Cal with Iron
- Enfamil Human Milk Fortifier
What is Necrotizing Enterocolitis?
Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe intestinal disease that is significantly more likely to occur in premature babies who are fed formula instead of breastmilk.
NEC often begins when a premature baby is unable to digest cow’s-milk baby formula, which causes inflammation in their intestines.
In severe cases, inflamed parts of the intestines die and a hole opens up, allowing bacteria to leak into the abdomen. Bacteria in the abdomen can cause an infection that rapidly spreads to other parts of the body, leading to organ failure, sepsis, and death within days.
What is the Risk?
Around 20-30% of cases of NEC are deadly, with the highest risk for infants who require surgery. For babies who survive, some of the most serious complications of NEC include:
- Surgery to remove part of the intestines
- Not being able to absorb food or nutrients
- Lifelong nutritional problems
- Need for IV feeding
- Severe infection in the body (sepsis)
- Hole in the intestines
- Intestinal scarring or narrow areas (strictures or adhesions)
- Intestinal failure
- Liver problems
- Short bowel syndrome
Do I have an Enfamil Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Enfamil induced injury cases in all 50 states. If your baby was diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) after being given Enfamil baby formula, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Baby Formula Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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The Schmidt Firm, PLLC has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading plaintiffs' law firms and handles cases in all 50 states. We are very proud of our legal achievements, but equally self-respecting of our firm's reputation for providing personal attention to each and every client we represent.
