ABT · 10-Q · 2026Q3 · Full report
Infant Formula Litigation
ABBOTT LABORATORIES · 2026-11-04 · Importance 40 · Surprise 42 · In source text
Abbott faces lawsuits alleging that cow’s-milk-containing preterm infant formula and human milk fortifier caused necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and failed to warn of the risk. In September 2026, Abbott reached agreements to resolve the Gill case and claims brought on behalf of approximately 2,000 additional infants; the filing says the agreements are a compromise and not an admission of liability. Abbott recorded a third-quarter charge related to the agreements, but the amount is not stated in the provided text, and it has not recorded additional reserves for the remaining NEC matters because their possible outcomes cannot be reasonably estimated.
Key facts
- During the third quarter of 2026, Abbott recorded a charge related to agreements to resolve the Gill case and NEC claims brought on behalf of approximately 2,000 additional infants. source
- Abbott stated that it could not reasonably estimate a range of possible loss for its remaining NEC-related matters and had recorded no additional reserves. source
Impact estimates
| metric | direction | stage | expected | basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| operating_income | negative | realized | — | During the third quarter of 2026, Abbott recorded a charge related to agreements to resolve the Gill case and NEC claims brought on behalf… |