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 primarily based in Illinois, is deceptive mother and father and different caregivers in regards to the dietary worth of its sugar-laden toddler milks, in keeping with a lawsuit filed Tuesday by the Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) in opposition to the maker of Similac formulation.
Marketed for consumption by youngsters ages 12 to 36 months, toddler milk is portrayed as the subsequent step for little ones after they’ve outgrown toddler formulation accredited by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Yet not like child components, the toddler milk merchandise aren’t regulated by the FDA and are probably dangerous, in accordance to PHAI, a nonprofit authorized analysis heart positioned at Northeastern University School of Law.
Sales of toddler milk nationwide have averaged greater than $500 million a 12 months, in keeping with PHAI’s swimsuit, filed in U.S. district courtroom for the Northern District of Illinois.
“More than simply pointless, toddler milk merchandise can really be dangerous to a toddler’s dietary well being,” mentioned George Fuchs, a medical physician and professor of pediatric gastroenterology on the University of Kentucky College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics. “The added sugars can improve a toddler’s choice 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 offered on the identical retailer cabinets, Abbott’s “Go & Grow Toddler Drink by Similac” and “Pure Bliss Toddler Drink by Similac” are labeled “Stage 3,” implying they’re the subsequent nutritionally really helpful product after “Stage 1” toddler components and “Stage 2” transitional components, the swimsuit alleges.
“Common toddler milk advertising practices, together with unsubstantiated nutrition-related claims and packages that appear to be toddler formulation, mislead mother and father and different caregivers to consider that toddler milks present dietary advantages for his or her younger youngsters,” mentioned Dr. Jennifer Harris, senior analysis adviser, advertising initiatives on the UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health.
Experts together with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that children above 12 months be given water and plain cow’s milk.
Abbott didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
