If you are a parent of a premature infant who was continuously fed with cow milk-based formula, the news on the recently emerging NEC formula litigation might be of great importance. According to 2025, a wave of lawsuits is currently unfolding against various formula makers, including Abbott Laboratories (maker of Similac) and Mead Johnson & Company (maker of Enfamil).

This nec formula lawsuit alleges that specific formulas have caused necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) in premature infants, and it is the manufacturers who failed to warn parents and hospitals of the risk. 

What is the NEC Formula Lawsuit About?

NEC is a severe gastrointestinal disease that mainly affects premature and low-birth-weight infants. Under the recent law, plaintiffs claim that when infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are fed cow’s milk-based infant formula, the risk of developing NEC rises immediately, compared to infants fed human milk or donor milk. Most of the lawsuits claim that the manufacturer knew (or should have known) of the increasing risk and yet marketed and labelled the formulas as safe, without adequate warning. The widely reported brands are Similac and Enfamil.

Recent Key Developments in 2025

The significant developments to track in 2025 are as follows.

By October 2025, the federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the Northern District of Illinois is tracking around 760 plus pending cases involving Similac and Enfamil NEC claims.

In March 2025, a Missouri judge vacated the only defence verdict in these NEC cases for Abbott & Mead, finding that the defence had engaged in serious misconduct (misleading jurors, introducing inadmissible evidence), thereby erasing the manufacturer’s sole courtroom win.

A major bellwether trial in federal court, scheduled for May 5, 2025 (Mar vs Abbott), was dismissed by summary judgment in Abbott’s favour. While a procedural win for the defence, courts emphasised that the ruling is fact-specific and doesn’t necessarily govern all pending claims. 

Furthermore, the next wave of bellwether trials is primarily scheduled for August 2026 (i.e., a second wave of representative cases) just after the earliest trials were either dismissed or otherwise delayed. At the same time, manufacturers continue to file motions for all sorts of judgments and to exclude plaintiffs’ causation experts, a tactic to limit liability by narrowing the scientific or evidentiary basis.  

For instance, in mid-2025, a key expert for the plaintiffs was mainly excluded by the judge for relying on unverified methodologies.

Why These Developments Matter?

Plaintiff’s momentum is a significant body of state-court verdicts (for instance, a USD 495 million verdict against Abbott in Missouri and a USD 60 million verdict against Mead in Illinois), showing that juries are willing to hold manufacturers accountable.

• Manufacturers under pressure

Regarding voluntary dismissals of defence wins and expanded case counts, defendants will undoubtedly face increasing settlement pressure. 

• Scientific & medical implications

Whereas manufacturers argue that NEC is mainly caused by the lack of human milk rather than by the formula itself, courts are allowing the plaintiff’s expert to present solid evidence of a link between cow-milk-based formulas and NEC risk. 

• Timing is critical

However, the filing windows and statutes of limitations for the nec formula lawsuit mean that the affected families should act soon rather than later if they believe their child was harmed.

What Should Affected Families Do Now?

Somehow, if your premature baby was fed Similac, Enfamil, and other cow’s milk-based NICU formulas and then developed NEC, specific practical checklists.

Gather medical records 

NICU feeding logs, including the formula brand used, NEC diagnosis, and treatments, are included.

Consult Legal Counsel 

Always try to consult an experienced NEC formula litigation expert, as the laws and multidisciplinary evidence in these cases are complex.

Preserve Evidence 

Always preserve evidence regarding formula purchase, hospital feeding records, diagnosis dates, surgeries, and long-term health effects. 

Track timelines

According to the expert lawyers at People for Law, state statutes of limitations vary. The sooner you assess your claim, the stronger your position remains.

Stay Informed 

Furthermore, the new bellwether trial results and settlements will certainly influence options and leverage.

NEC Lawsuit Recent Updates in 2025

Never wait to explore your legal rights. If your child is a premature infant and was fed with a cow’s milk-based formula like Similac or Enfamil and later developed NEC, you are eligible to join the growing NEC formula litigation. 

With hundreds of cases pending and primary trial outcomes shaping the overall landscape, now is an essential time to act. Contact our experienced attorney at People for Law today to review your case and understand your options under the NEC formula-lawsuit framework.