Memphis mother files wrongful death lawsuit against popular baby food brand after son’s death

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – A Memphis mother has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, accusing a leading infant formula manufacturer of killing her baby.

The 39-page lawsuit alleges that the makers of Enfamil failed to disclose certain ingredients that caused a fatal intestinal disease in a baby.

The mother, Nakia Harris, claims that the death of her premature son Ja Stevens could have been prevented if the infant formula manufacturer Abbott Laboratories had disclosed the health risks for premature babies associated with the consumption of cow’s milk-based products.

Harris is suing both Abbott Laboratories and Mead Johnson & Company LLC for failing to include warnings on their product labels, websites and marketing materials.

The lawsuit alleges that Stevens’ death was caused by a failure to educate parents and medical staff that cow’s milk-based products increase the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a fatal intestinal disease of the intestinal wall in premature babies.

According to the lawsuit, Harris’ baby was born prematurely on April 12, 2023, at Saint Francis Hospital. After birth, baby Stevens was taken to the Regional One Health neonatal intensive care unit and fed Enfamil milk products.

Shortly thereafter, Stevens was diagnosed with NEC and was admitted to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, where he tragically passed away.

Action News 5 contacted all hospitals in the area to find out if they provide additional milk-based infant formula to premature babies.

Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital confirmed that Stevens was not given any infant formula during his treatment.

Harris is demanding compensation following the death of her son.

Click here to subscribe to our newsletter!

Click here to report a spelling or grammatical error. Please include the heading.

All rights reserved.