Abbott Laboratories Faces Lawsuit Over Efficacy of PediaSure Grow & Gain Nutrition Drinks
Abbott Laboratories, a renowned healthcare company, recently faced a setback in court as a judge denied its attempt to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a grandmother from New York City. The lawsuit questions the efficacy claims made by Abbott regarding its PediaSure Grow & Gain nutrition drinks, specifically targeting their alleged ability to boost children’s height.
The plaintiff, Joanne Noriega, alleges that Abbott misled consumers by falsely claiming that PediaSure Grow & Gain drinks were “clinically proven” to enhance children’s height. According to Reuters, U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer found Noriega’s complaint compelling and supported by evidence, raising doubts about Abbott’s marketing claims.
Noriega, who resides in the Bronx, purchased PediaSure Grow & Gain drinks in the hope that they would aid her grandson’s growth. However, after a year of regular consumption, her grandson did not experience any increase in height but instead gained excessive weight. Frustrated with the lack of results, Noriega stopped buying the product.
The lawsuit also references three studies funded by Abbott, which reportedly concluded that there was no correlation between PediaSure and height increase. These studies contradict Abbott’s claims regarding the efficacy of their nutrition drinks.
Judge Engelmayer noted that the existence of studies contradicting the label’s claim reinforces the plausibility of the complaint’s allegation that the label would mislead a reasonable consumer. This ruling suggests that Abbott may have to face the legal consequences of potentially misleading marketing practices.
In response to the lawsuit, Abbott released a statement to Reuters, dismissing the case as without merit. They assert that PediaSure is a scientifically designed nutrition solution for children, aimed at supporting growth and development.
The legal action seeks unspecified damages on behalf of deceived New Yorkers who purchased or overpaid for PediaSure. This case highlights the importance of accurate and transparent marketing claims, especially when targeting vulnerable consumer groups such as parents seeking products to support their children’s health and development.
Abbott Laboratories’ stock price experienced a decline of 2.08% on Friday, closing at $112.11 per share. However, after-hours trading saw a slight increase of 0.21% to $112.35 per share.
It is worth noting that this article was partially generated with the assistance of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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