Yes, Enfamil baby formula is harmful if used after the use-by date. You should never feed your baby expired formula as expired food has lost its nutritional value and increases the risk of poisoning and other foodborne illnesses. For this reason, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has put safety standards in place for baby formula.
Expired formula clumps and becomes susceptible to bacterial and mold growth, which are harmful to an infant's health. You may be tempted to avoid monetary losses, but you must mind your baby's health before anything else.
What Are the Negative Effects of Using Outdated Enfamil to Feed an Infant?
Feeding an infant expired formula poses a great danger to your baby. Symptoms of poisoning from an outdated baby formula may include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Fever
- Stomachache
- Excessive fussiness
When your baby displays these symptoms, you will want to call your child's doctor if the following happens:
- Persistent abdominal pain
- Repeated vomiting
- More than eight loose stools within 8 hours
- Blood in their stool or vomit
- No tears when crying, along with sunken eyes
- Dark or no urine after 4-6 hours
- Diarrhea for more than three days
What Should I Do With My Expired Enfamil Formula?
There are a few things you can do with your expired Enfamil formula; try the following:
Take It Back to the Store for a New Container of Formula
After acquiring your expired Enfamil formula unknowingly, taking expired formula back to the store is the best option you have. You need to take note of the specific store and produce the receipt or any other proof of purchase. Alternatively, you can call the product manufacturers and tell them that the particular store sells expired formulas.
Donate It to an Animal Shelter
Some shelters accept recently expired formulas to give to their youngest residents.
Use the Outdated Formula for Gardening
Using the expired formula for gardening is the other option you could go for. It doesn't matter if the formula is far past its expiration date. The formula contains nutrients that could help the healthy growth of your garden and act as a fertilizer.
What Are the Legal Consequences of Selling Expired Enfamil Formula?
As much as it's not advisable to feed your baby expired formula, there aren't legal restrictions or consequences to stores that sell expired baby formula. Therefore, many store owners will keep the expired formula on the shelf, knowing they're expired.
However, if the outdated formula affects the baby, you might have recourse in state or federal law. If this situation happens, you may want to find a lawyer who'll represent you and your potential case.
The FDA puts in place the regulations concerning the sale and distribution of expired baby food. According to 21 U.S.C. § 321 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, all parties that manufacture and distribute expired baby formula should be liable if your baby gets sick after ingesting the expired formula.
What Is a Product Liability Lawsuit?
A product liability lawsuit is a legal claim against parties involved in the manufacturing, selling, and distributing of expired baby food. In a product liability lawsuit, damages that liable parties can pay for include:
- Compensation for injury
- Pain and suffering
- Medical bills
- Trauma
- Wrongful death
Do I Need a Lawyer?
If your baby gets sick after feeding them expired Enfamil formula, you may want to start thinking about hiring a lawyer to help you with the legal processes. A personal injury lawyer will help you determine the liable party for your damages and assist you as you file and meet with the at-fault party for possible settlement options.
How Much Will a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?
Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency-fee basis. A contingency-fee basis allows you to keep your money and put it towards your infant's recovery as we pursue legal action against the at-fault party. Your lawyer will only collect payment if they win or settle your case. If your case is lost, you will not need to pay anything.
Why Choose Dolman Law Group?
Filing a product liability lawsuit could get complicated, and you could possibly not get any compensation. It would help if you had a personal injury lawyer who specializes in expired infant formula lawsuits to represent you and answer your questions as they arise.
Consult with Dolman Law Group for free to learn about all your legal options. Let our personal injury lawyers handle the legal matters while you ensure your baby's well-being is attended to. Call us today at to speak with one of our team members.