news 
Abbott accused of deceiving parents with potentially harmful toddler formula
A new lawsuit has been filed against Abbott Laboratories, accusing the company of misleading parents and caregivers about the nutritional value of its sugar-laden toddler milk products. The Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) claims that Abbott’s marketing practices are deceptive and potentially harmful to children.
According to the lawsuit, Abbott is labeling its “Go & Grow Toddler Drink by Similac” and “Pure Bliss Toddler Drink by Similac” as “Stage 3,” implying that they are a nutritionally recommended product after “Stage 1” infant formula and “Stage 2” transitional formula. However, experts recommend that children above 12 months be given water and plain cow’s milk.
Dr. George Fuchs, a medical doctor and professor of pediatric gastroenterology at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, warns that these products can actually be harmful to a child’s nutritional health. “The added sugars can increase a toddler’s preference for sweetened foods, contributing to obesity and other health risks throughout their lives,” he said.
Dr. Jennifer Harris, senior research adviser, marketing initiatives at the UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health, agrees that Abbott’s marketing practices are misleading. “Common toddler milk marketing practices, including unsubstantiated nutrition-related claims and packages that look like infant formulas, mislead parents and other caregivers to believe that toddler milks provide nutritional benefits for their young children,” she said.
Abbott has not yet responded to requests for comment.
This is not the first time concerns have been raised about Abbott’s marketing practices. In 2024, the American Academy of Pediatrics flagged questionable marketing practices by makers of formulas for older infants and toddlers.
Source: www.cbsnews.com
