Necrotizing enterocolitis, or NEC, is a serious disease that affects the intestines of premature infants. It typically happens within the first 2 weeks of life in pre-term babies.

The cause of NEC is not always clear, and some infant intestinal problems are not preventable. But there is one cause of NEC that is man-made and completely preventable: the use of cow’s milk fortifiers added to formula or breast milk at the hospital to help low birth-weight babies gain weight. It is possible cow’s milk formula fortifiers may be the cause of your child’s NEC.

Studies show that NEC is more common in babies who received cow’s milk fortifiers in their baby formula. As far back as 1990, a study found that NEC was 6 to 10 times more common in formula fed babies than in those fed breast milk alone, and NEC was 3 times more common in babies fed formula plus breast milk. In 2012, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a policy statement that all premature infants should be fed an exclusive human milk diet because of the risk of NEC associated with the consumption of cow’s milk products.

In these premature babies, bacteria attack the wall of the intestine causing an inflammatory response. This can create a perforation or hole in the intestines allowing bacteria and feces to enter the abdomen. If not treated, it can lead to serious infection and death.

Hospitals and doctors are aware of these studies and the risks associated with such formula, but often choose to use cows-milk based fortifiers because they are lower cost than human-milk based fortifiers. That decision may have caused NEC in your baby. Further, the companies that manufacture these bovine based products have never included a warning to anyone that their products resulted in a higher risk of NEC in premature babies.

Baby formula brands Similac and Enfamil are two of the most dominant brands in the US formula market.

Our baby formula NEC lawyers are evaluating claims against Mead Johnson Nutrition for the failure to warn about the risks of it product, Enfamil. If your baby was fed any of the following products, you could have a viable Enfamil baby formula lawsuit if your baby developed NEC:

Likewise, our attorneys are also evaluating NEC lawsuits against the maker of Similac, Abbott Laboratories Inc., for premature babies who developed NEC. The cow milk products for Similac include:

Mazie Slater is also evaluating cases against other baby formula manufacturers for causing NEC in infants.

Our law firm is currently investigating claims on behalf of parents whose infant developed NEC. We will evaluate your case free of charge and discuss whether you may have a viable claim against a baby formula manufacturer and/or your infant’s doctor or hospital. If your baby developed NEC, contact our New Jersey NEC Attorneys today for a free consultation.