NEC Baby Formula Lawsuit

Cow’s milk-based baby formula like Enfamil™ and Similac^® may cause necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a potentially life-threatening condition that mainly affects premature and low-birth-weight babies. As awareness grows, many families are taking legal action to seek compensation and justice. See if you may be able to file an NEC baby formula lawsuit.

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Why Take Legal Action?

By filing a product liability lawsuit, you can pursue financial compensation and justice from the companies that caused you or a loved one harm.

Results Secured

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$575,000 for a man in Florida who suffered chemical burns from Just for Men^® hair dye

Fact-Checked and Legally Reviewed by: Rae Theodore

Last updated: Apr 14, 2025

NEC Lawsuit Update 2025

Several companies are facing lawsuits accusing them of manufacturing and selling baby formula products that put infants at risk of a dangerous intestinal disease known as necrotizing enterocolitis.

The Latest NEC Baby Formula Lawsuit Updates

At least 683 claims have been filed in an NEC class action lawsuit or multidistrict litigation (MDL) as of April 2025.
Companies named in NEC baby formula lawsuits include Mead Johnson & Company LLC, which makes Enfamil, and Abbott Laboratories, which makes Similac.
These claims allege that the defendants failed to adequately warn of the increased risk of NEC or use safer substitutes for cow’s milk in their products.
Baby formula companies have been ordered to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to those who’ve been harmed.
In one NEC baby formula lawsuit, a Missouri judge awarded $495 million to the family of an infant who suffered permanent brain damage and other NEC complications after being fed Similac baby formula in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

It’s not too late to file an NEC baby formula lawsuit and hold the company that harmed your child accountable. Compensation can help families cover medical expenses, long-term care costs, and more.

LawFirm.com works with NEC lawsuit lawyers who’ve secured over $9.8 billion for those injured through no fault of their own. Our legal partners never charge any upfront costs and can help families in all 50 states.

Get a free case review now to see if they may be able to fight hard for your family.

NEC Lawsuit Qualifications

You may be able to file an NEC baby formula lawsuit if you’re the parent or legal guardian of a child who was:

Born premature
Fed cow’s milk-based formula
Diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or short bowel syndrome

If your child was born prematurely, they may have spent time in the NICU. Oftentimes, infants are fed these formulas by NICU staff to help them grow, especially if they’re unable to breastfeed.

Even if your child was harmed years ago, you may still qualify for an NEC baby formula lawsuit. LawFirm.com has registered nurses on staff who can listen to your story and explain your legal options — at no cost to you.

Call (888) 726-9160 right now or chat with a case manager to see if you may be able to file an NEC baby formula lawsuit.

What Formulas Are Involved in the NEC Lawsuit?

Any baby formula product that contains cow’s milk can increase the risk of premature and low-birth-weight newborns developing NEC.

Baby formula brands that use cow’s milk proteins include:

Avacare^®
Baby’s Only^®
Bobbie^®
Earth’s Best^®
Enfamil
Gerber^®
Happy Baby^®
Holle^®
Lebenswert™
Loulouka™
Kendamil^®
Parent’s Choice^®
PediaSure^®
Similac

“The only consistent observations made in infants who develop NEC are the presence of prematurity and formula feeding.”

– Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

If your baby was premature, fed cow’s milk-based baby formula products, and diagnosed with NEC, we may be able to help you seek compensation from an NEC baby formula lawsuit.

How to File a Baby Formula Lawsuit

The baby formula lawyers that we work with understand the financial and emotional strain related to caring for a child with health issues, so they handle the entire legal process. With your team seeking compensation on your behalf, you can put your child first.

The NEC baby formula lawyers in our network can:

Provide a free case review to determine whether you may be able to take legal action
Gather evidence like medical records, receipts, and expert testimony to build a strong case
File a necrotizing enterocolitis lawsuit on your behalf before any legal deadlines
Negotiate an NEC settlement that provides maximum compensation as quickly as possible
Represent you in court and seek money from an NEC trial verdict if a settlement can’t be reached

Did you know?

In the first NEC lawsuit payout, an Illinois family whose child passed away from complications was awarded a $60 million verdict.

NEC lawsuit settlement amounts may vary based on the severity of the child’s injuries, medical expenses, and more. However, your legal team will fight for enough compensation from a product liability claim for your child’s estimated lifetime medical care costs.

Understanding Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Graphic of an infant with NEC Necrotizing enterocolitis occurs when tissue in the small or large intestine becomes inflamed or injured. This inflammation can worsen over time, leading to the death of intestinal tissue and the formation of holes in the intestinal wall.

When this happens, the intestines are unable to hold waste, causing bacteria to leak into the child’s abdomen or bloodstream. This can cause life-threatening infections.

Premature or low-birth-weight babies are at a higher risk of NEC compared to full-term infants fed human breast milk. This is because they don’t have a fully developed digestive system.

Common symptoms of NEC in babies include:

Constipation
Dark, bloody stools
Fatigue
Feeding issues
Green vomit
Low blood pressure and heart rate
Pauses in breathing
Red, swollen belly (abdominal distention)
Temperature instability

NEC often develops within the first 2 weeks of life in premature infants who are formula-fed, sometimes while they’re still in the NICU.

It costs over $300,000 on average for health care when an infant develops necrotizing enterocolitis and requires surgery, according to the National Library of Medicine.

Compensation from an infant formula lawsuit can help with these costs and provide peace of mind during this challenging time. See if you may be able to seek an NEC baby formula lawsuit payout with a free case review.

Necrotizing Enterocolitis Complications

Sadly, up to 50% of babies with NEC pass away. This number is even higher when children suffer complications like sepsis (blood infection) and peritonitis (inflammation in the lining of the belly), according to the National Library of Medicine.

Those who do survive may suffer long-term health problems that can affect their overall quality of life and future.

NEC complications include:

Brain damage leading to cerebral palsy or bleeding in the brain
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a type of brain damage caused by lack of oxygen
Short bowel syndrome, a chronic condition where the body has trouble absorbing water and nutrients
Sepsis

Scientific evidence shows that cow’s milk formulas may disrupt normal digestion in preterm babies, triggering intestinal inflammation.

However, despite mounting evidence, baby formula manufacturers did not adequately warn parents and health care providers about these risks.

Get Help From Top NEC Lawsuit Lawyers

Baby formula manufacturers are required to ensure that their products are safe and warn of any possible health risks. When dangerous products cause harm, companies should be made to pay the price.

LawFirm.com works with personal injury lawyers who have recovered over $9.8 billion for victims of injustice nationwide.

Our legal partners:

Can file Enfamil and Similac lawsuits on behalf of families in all 50 states
Have helped thousands of families harmed by dangerous products
Never charge any upfront costs or hourly fees

The baby formula attorneys in our network can handle the entire legal process, so you can focus on what’s truly important — caring for your child.

Call (888) 726-9160 right now or fill out our form to see if an experienced NEC baby formula lawyer may be able to seek the compensation you deserve.

Enfamil Lawsuit & Similac Lawsuit FAQs

What is the average payout for an NEC lawsuit?

The average payout for an NEC lawsuit depends on factors like the severity of the child’s injuries, the long-term health complications, and the strength of the evidence.

However, some families have received millions of dollars. In July 2024, for example, a Missouri jury awarded $495 million in an NEC baby formula lawsuit to a family whose child suffered severe complications.

Get a free case now to see if we may be able to help you pursue compensation from an NEC baby formula lawsuit.

Do I qualify for NEC lawsuit?

You may qualify for an NEC lawsuit if your child was born premature, fed cow’s milk-based formula, and diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or short bowel syndrome.

Even if your child’s diagnosis happened years ago, you may still be eligible to file a baby formula NEC lawsuit. Laws called statutes of limitations limit how much time you have to file a baby formula case, so it’s important to act quickly.

Call (888) 726-9160 right now or chat with a case manager to get started.

What does NEC do to babies?

Necrotizing enterocolitis causes a baby’s intestinal lining to become inflamed and die, potentially leading to complications like holes in the intestine, infection, and even death. It has been linked to cow’s milk-based baby formula, including Enfamil and Similac.

What are the symptoms of NEC?

The symptoms of NEC in an infant are often similar to those related to other less serious gastrointestinal illnesses.

NEC symptoms include:

Bloating or swellling in the abdomen
Bloody stool
Decreased energy
Feeding issues
Greenish fluid in vomit
Low heart rate and blood pressure
Red, swollen belly
Temperature fluctuation

NEC primarily affects premature babies, especially those fed formula made from cow’s milk, so it’s important to get prompt medical attention if those risk factors are present.

When will the NEC lawsuit be settled?

Bellwether trials, or test trials, in the NEC class action lawsuit or multidistrict litigation are set to begin in May 2025. If these first trials are resolved in favor of the plaintiffs, formula makers may be motivated to cut their losses and negotiate a settlement.

Is there a Similac class action lawsuit?

Yes, Similac lawsuits have been consolidated in a type of class action lawsuit known as a multidistrict litigation (MDL) under Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer in the Northern District of Illinois.

The case, In re Abbott Laboratories, et al., Preterm Infant Nutrition Products Liability Litigation (MDL-3026), also includes claims involving different brands of milk-based infant nutrition products.

Similac products involved in the MDL may include:

Similac 360 Total Care^®
Similac Alimentum^®
Similac Expert Care^® Alimentum^®
Similac Go & Grow
Concentrated Liquid
Similac NeoSure^®
Similac Special Care^®
Similac Special Care^® 20
Similac Special Care^® 24
Similac Special Care^® 24 High Protein
Similac Special Care^® 30

Cow’s milk-based products like these can endanger the health of premature babies, increasing their risk of necrotizing enterocolitis, a potentially fatal intestinal disease.

While Similac lawsuit settlement amounts may vary, an NEC baby formula lawyer can work to secure as much financial compensation as quickly as possible.

Is there an Enfamil class action lawsuit?

Yes, Enfamil lawsuits have been consolidated in a mass tort in the Northern District of Illinois along with claims involving different brands of milk-based infant nutrition products.

These Enfamil products may include:

Enfamil DHA-In-Sol
Enfamil 24 Calorie Formula
Enfamil Enfagrow^® Toddler and Enfagrow Premium™ Toddler
Enfamil Enspire™
Enfamil NeuroPro™ EnfaCare^® Premature Baby Formula
Enfamil NeuroPro™ Gentlease^®
Enfamil Nutramigen^®
Enfamil Premature 24 Cal
Enfamil Premature 30 Cal
Enfamil Premature Infant Iron Formula 20 Cal
Enfamil Premature Infant Formula 24 Cal
Enfamil Premature Infant Formula 30 Cal with Iron

Cow’s milk can be harmful when fed to premature infants and increase the risk of a baby developing NEC, a potentially deadly intestinal disease.

An Enfamil baby formula lawsuit settlement can help parents cover medical expenses and long-term care costs.

Get a free case now to see if a top lawyer may be able to pursue the compensation you deserve.