(WBBM NEWSRADIO) – A health advocacy group has filed a lawsuit against North Chicago-based Abbott Laboratories over what it says is misleading marketing of its formula products to young children.
The Public Health Defense Institute filed the lawsuit in federal court Tuesday, calling infant formula a marketing ploy to keep parents and caregivers using Abbott products as their children age.
Chicago mother Nancy Helmold is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which seeks to be a class action.
The company is misleading customers about the authenticity of Similac's Go & Grow and Pure Bliss milk powder products, said Andrew Reiner, litigation director for the Boston-based nonprofit.
“Abbott Labs continues to sell children's beverage products that contain multiple grams of added sugar, which many public health and nutrition organizations strongly recommend against,” Reiner said.
The lawsuit says the infant formula, which is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, contains four grams of added sugar per serving, contrary to the leading children's group's recommendations for no added sugar before age 5.
Reiner said they are filing a lawsuit to change the marketing and advertising of Similac milk powder.
“Unlike its competitors, Abbott Labs continues to sell its numbered infant beverages in a way that suggests these products are the next step after infant formula, which they are not,” Reiner said.
Abbott responded to WBBM when asked about the lawsuit.
“This case is baseless. Abbott's representations of its infant nutrition products are accurate, and our claims are well-supported,” the company told WBBM.
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!
Sign up and follow WBBM Newsradio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Bluesky
