Abbott accused of deceiving dad and mom with probably dangerous components for toddlers

A 12 months after the American Academy of Pediatrics flagged what it described as “questionable advertising practices” by makers of formulation for older infants and toddlers, Abbott Laboratories is being sued over the way it pitches such merchandise. 

Abbott, a well being care merchandise conglomerate based mostly in Illinois, is deceptive dad and mom and different caregivers in regards to the dietary worth of its sugar-laden toddler milks, based on a lawsuit filed Tuesday by the Public Well being Advocacy Institute (PHAI) towards the maker of Similac formulation. 

Marketed for consumption by kids ages 12 to 36 months, toddler milk is portrayed as the following step for little ones after they’ve outgrown toddler formulation accredited by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA). But not like child components, the toddler milk merchandise should not regulated by the FDA and are probably dangerous, in accordance to PHAI, a nonprofit authorized analysis heart situated at Northeastern College Faculty of Legislation.

Gross sales of toddler milk nationwide have averaged greater than $500 million a 12 months, based on PHAI’s go well with, filed in U.S. district court docket for the Northern District of Illinois. 

“Extra than simply pointless, toddler milk merchandise can truly be dangerous to a toddler’s dietary well being,” mentioned George Fuchs, a medical physician and professor of pediatric gastroenterology on the College of Kentucky Faculty of Drugs Division of Pediatrics. “The added sugars can improve a toddler’s desire for sweetened meals, contributing to weight problems and different well being dangers all through their lives,” famous Fuchs, who led the AAP report on toddler milks. 

Labeled equally to FDA-regulated toddler formulation and bought on the identical retailer cabinets, Abbott’s “Go & Develop Toddler Drink by Similac” and “Pure Bliss Toddler Drink by Similac” are labeled “Stage 3,” implying they’re the following nutritionally really useful product after “Stage 1” toddler components and “Stage 2” transitional components, the go well with alleges. 

“Frequent toddler milk advertising practices, together with unsubstantiated nutrition-related claims and packages that seem like toddler formulation, mislead dad and mom and different caregivers to imagine that toddler milks present dietary advantages for his or her younger kids,” mentioned Dr. Jennifer Harris, senior analysis adviser, advertising initiatives on the UConn Rudd Middle for Meals Coverage and Well being. 

Specialists together with the American Academy of Pediatrics suggest that kids above 12 months be given water and plain cow’s milk. 

Abbott didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.