Legal Claims

NEC Baby Formula Lawsuit

If your premature infant was fed a cow's milk-based formula like Similac or Enfamil and later developed necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), you may qualify for compensation.

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What's behind the NEC baby formula claims?

Lawsuits allege that Abbott (maker of Similac) and Mead Johnson/Reckitt (maker of Enfamil) failed to adequately warn that cow's milk-based infant formula carries a significantly higher risk of necrotizing enterocolitis — a serious and sometimes fatal intestinal disease — in premature infants, compared to human milk or other alternatives. Cases were consolidated into a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL 3026) in the Northern District of Illinois in April 2022.

Several substantial verdicts have come out of this litigation: an Illinois state court awarded $60 million in March 2024, a Missouri state court awarded $495 million in July 2024, and a Chicago federal jury awarded $70 million against Abbott in April 2026. As of July 2026, roughly 810 cases remain pending in the federal MDL.

Who this may affect

Had a premature infant fed Similac, Enfamil, or another cow's milk-based formula
Infant was later diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)
Infant required surgery, suffered long-term complications, or passed away as a result

How this works

Here's what happens after you reach out:

Quick questions

A short set of free eligibility questions about your situation — takes about two minutes.

Free review

Our network reviews your answers against current qualifying criteria and reaches out if you may qualify.

No obligation

You decide whether to move forward. There's never a cost to check your eligibility.

Where things stand

The federal MDL remains active, with an Enfamil bellwether case (Inman v. Mead Johnson & Company, LLC) scheduled for trial in July 2026 and a second wave of bellwether trials expected to begin in August 2026. No global settlement has been reached; case outcomes so far have varied widely between state and federal courts.

Frequently asked questions

Is there still time to file an NEC baby formula claim?

Filing deadlines vary by state and generally run from your child's diagnosis or, in some states, from when you reasonably connected the diagnosis to the formula. With the federal litigation still active and new bellwether trials scheduled through 2026, it's worth having your timeline reviewed rather than assuming you've missed a window.

Sources: "NEC Baby Formula Lawsuit — $70M Abbott Verdict" (ConsumerNotice.org, April 2026) and "Baby Formula NEC Lawsuit" (Drugwatch, 2026). Atumio is a marketing/referral service, not a law firm, and this page is not legal advice.