Abbott Laboratories “deliberately marketed” infant formula to make it seem like it was the next recommended step in a child's diet, but the lawsuit alleges that the sugary drinks actually promote health benefits such as obesity. May cause health problems.
In a complaint filed Tuesday by the Public Health Advocates Association in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the makers of Similac-branded products deceptively sell infant milk products to parents of children 12 to 36 months old. He was accused of promoting it.
“Infant milk is intentionally sold and labeled to look like infant formula,” said Andrew Reiner, a PHAI attorney who led the lawsuit. “It sits on the shelf next to infant formula and is being promoted as the next step in pediatric nutrition. All to persuade parents and caregivers to buy products their young children don't need.”
Similac milk is sold in cans and containers of the same size, with similar labels, and on the same shelves as infant formula. But unlike infant formula, the infant product is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, according to PHAI, a nonprofit legal research center located at Northeastern University.
“This lawsuit is without merit,” an Abbott spokesperson told the Post in a statement. “The representation of Abbott's infant nutrition products is accurate and our claims are well supported.”
The class action lawsuit asks Abbott to change its marketing practices and refund customers the money they spent on its products.
The lawsuit alleges that Abbott developed products called “transitional milk,” “follow-up milk,” “weaning milk,” and “toddler milk” to increase profits as sales of infant formula declined. has been criticized.
Between 2006 and 2015, advertising costs for these products quadrupled, according to the lawsuit. And infant beverages have become a very lucrative business, generating an average of more than $500 million in sales each year since 2018, the complaint says.
“Similac’s Go & Grow Toddler Drink” and “Similac’s Pure Bliss Toddler Drink” are labeled “Stage 3” products, next to Abbott’s “Stage 1” infant formula and “Stage 2” transitional formula. This indicates that this is a recommended step. According to PHAI.
But in addition to not being regulated by the FDA, infant formula is not recommended by nutrition experts, the institute argued.
American Academy of Pediatrics recommends giving water and milk to children over 12 months of age.
“Infant dairy products are not just unnecessary, they may actually be harmful to a child's nutritional health,” said University of Kentucky pediatric gastroenterology professor who led the AAP report on infant milk. said Dr. George Fuchs.
“Added sugars can increase young children's preference for sweet foods, leading to obesity and other health risks throughout their lives,” Fuchs said.
According to the complaint, Abbott's infant milk products contain 4 grams of added sugar per serving, or about 20% added sugar.
Last year, the baby formula maker was ordered to pay nearly $500 million in damages in a separate lawsuit after a jury found its Similac product caused a dangerous intestinal disease in a young girl.
