“Sometimes the smallest things take the most room in your heart.”
—Winnie the Pooh.
The arrival of a newborn is the most remarkable event in a parent’s life. The infant is a living embodiment of human love and connection.
Societies have their own set of complex mechanisms for nurturing your infant. But nature also plays a crucial role in your baby’s development. It is important for you, as a parent, to be mindful of your baby’s journey.
In earlier days, a mother’s needs were of paramount importance. Delivering a child has now become a medicalized event. The process is no longer completely organic and intimate.
The journey of a baby from the womb to the outer world is interspersed with professional interventions and excessive hospital bills. The family often has their wishes ignored in favor of hospital protocols and medical personnel.
Post birth, too, brands and businesses have a strong hold over the kids and their parents’ lives.
The First Few Years: Be Cautious
Market shelves these days are replete with infant food options. A parent is spoilt with choices. It is imperative for parents to make well-informed choices. Feeding your newborn in its first months is a delicate process. The quality and the ingredients present in the formula your child consumes need monitoring.
The first two years of a child’s life are paramount. Good nutrition during this time promotes overall development and lowers morbidity and the risk of chronic diseases.
According to the World Health Organisation and UNICEF, breastfeeding should start within the first hour of the child’s birth and continue for six months at least. But there are instances where mothers are not able to produce an adequate amount of milk for their infants.
In such cases, many mothers resort to cow’s milk-based baby formula that includes brands like Enfamil and Similac. Studies have shown that premature infants can contract a severe gastrointestinal disorder called Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) upon consumption of certain baby formulas.
NEC occurs when the big intestine’s tissue becomes inflamed. This condition might destroy tissues in your baby’s colon. Moreover, it can result in short bowel syndrome, which requires prolonged intravenous feeding and can cause malnutrition and other side effects.
Many bereaved parents have sued Abbott Laboratories, and Mead Johnson, the companies that make Similac and Enfamil, for failing to alert them to the risks associated with their infant formulas.
TorHoerman Law LLC estimates that the NEC Lawsuit Payout and Settlement Amounts might be between $5,000 and above $500,000. These projections account for the degree of harm, the price of continuous medical care, and other elements that can influence the case’s worth.
A Monopolized Baby Food Industry
As a matter of fact, millions of families use baby formula for infant care. But, there are only a handful of manufacturers producing it. Abbott, Gerber and Mead Johnson are the three big players in the US Formula industry.
Their monopoly over the market has left little room for any competition. This is a reason for the baby formula shortage that plagued the US in 2022.
For Abbott, infant formula forms just 5% of its $200 billion revenue. According to a few reports, the company had to shut down one of its biggest baby formula plants when an investigation linked the bacteria found in the plant to a serious disorder. This resulted in a huge production gap and empty shelves in stores.
The governments should ensure that such grants or approvals are regulated and monopolized. Cases, where highly valuable entities are being managed by a handful of businesses, are a ticking time bomb.
Were You Tricked? What Are Your Options?
The common man is at the mercy of the businesses that hold such an intense and consolidated monopoly. Certain commodities like baby food can, by no means, be unregulated and disincentivized.
The Federal Trade Commission was created to safeguard the general public against unethical or deceptive business practices and unfair business competition.
According to the federal Lanham Act, fraudulent or deceptive marketing tactics that “misrepresent the nature, characteristics, attributes, or geographic origin” of goods or services are grounds for civil actions.
Conclusion
The world is a marketplace with a gamut of options on offer. This is the best era when you see the extent of advancements and innovations. But, somewhere, to some extent, the connection of humanity with its ideals and morals has diluted.
This ecosystem is here to survive. Brands and businesses will compete for many years to come. The need of the hour is that the consumers raise their voices against malpractices and make themselves heard.
It will never be easy to contest the big majestic businesses. But you need to fight for your family–for your loved ones!
