Abbott Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Nutritional Value of “Toddler Drink”

A class action lawsuit has been filed against Abbott Laboratories, accusing the company of misleading consumers to increase profits by overstating the nutritional benefits of its “toddler drink” products, which reportedly contain high levels of saturated fat, sodium and added sugar.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Monica Castro, Damary Santa and Nancy Helmold in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on January 14, seeking class action status for those who bought Abbott’s toddler drink products nationwide, suggesting that the products may have no real nutritional value for toddlers, despite the company’s claims.

Named in the lawsuit are Abbott’s Similac Pure Bliss Toddler Drink and Similac Go & Grow Toddler Drink, both of which are milk-based powders, and also often referred to as “toddler milk.” Both products are labeled as “Stage 3,” suggesting they are the next feeding stage up from supplemental formula.

The claim comes as Abbott already faces hundreds of Similac infant formula lawsuits, involving claims that products designed for earlier use among premature infants resulted in the development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), which is a devastating condition that occurs when an infant’s intestinal tissue becomes inflamed and dies, resulting in the need for emergency surgery and often ending in the infant’s death.

All three plaintiffs say they and other parents and caregivers were intentionally deceived by Abbott’s marketing of the toddler milk products, which cost $30 per can, due to the claims it was a nutritional addition to their child’s diet.

“In fact, ‘Toddler Drinks’ are not nutritionally recommended at all. Experts recommend that children above 12 months be given plain cow’s milk, as well as water and healthy foods,” the lawsuit states. “Thus, Defendant’s ‘Toddler Drinks’ are labeled in a manner designed to give caregivers of toddlers the false impression that the product is nutritionally appropriate for children in the targeted age group – 12 to 36 months – when in fact they are not.”

The lawsuit notes that there are high levels of added sugar, sodium and saturated fat in the products, which can increase the risk of children developing metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes.

For example, each serving of Similac Go & Grow contains 4 grams of added sugar, which makes up about 23% of its calories, plaintiffs claim. They also indicate Similac Pure Bliss contains 4 grams of added sugar per serving, making up 20% of its calories.

“The recommendation by key national health and nutrition organizations for children above 12 months is zero added sugar,” the lawsuit indicates. “In light of this sugar content, Abbott’s representations that its ‘Toddler Drinks’ are nutritious and healthy are false and misleading.”

The parents present claims of violations of various California, Massachusetts and Illinois consumer protection laws, as well as breach of warranty, unjust enrichment, negligent misrepresentation and intentional misrepresentation.

It is one of several similar toddler milk lawsuits filed over the last year, following a warning by pediatricians issued in October 2023, when the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued new clinical guidelines indicating toddler milk was being deceptively marketed, despite being nutritionally unnecessary.