(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A health advocacy group is suing North Chicago-based Abbott Laboratories for what it says is the misleading marketing of its toddler milk products.
The Public Health Advocacy Institute filed the suit in federal court Tuesday, calling toddler milk a marketing ploy to keep parents and caregivers using Abbott products as their children age.
Chicago mom Nancy Helmold is one of the plaintiffs in the suit that seeks to be a class action.
Director of litigation for the Boston-based non-profit Andrew Rainer said the company is misleading customers about the health of its Go & Grow and Pure Bliss powdered milks from Similac.
"Abbott Labs continues to sell its toddler drink products with multiple grams of added sugar, which numerous public health and nutrition organizations strongly recommends against," Rainer said.
The suit says the toddler milks, which are not regulated by the FDA, have four grams of added sugar per serving - and go against leading pediatric group recommendations of no added sugar before age 5.
Rainer said they are suing to change the marketing and advertising of Similac's powdered milks.
"Unlike its competitors, Abbott Labs continues to sell its toddler drink products numbered in a way that suggests that these products are the next step after infant formula, which they are not," said Rainer.
Abbott responded to WBBM when asked about the lawsuit.
"This case is without merit. Abbott's representations of its toddler nutrition products are accurate, and our claims are well-supported," the company told WBBM.
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