Lawsuit alleges SimplyThick baby formula additive caused infant’s death

A Florida man has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the maker of a baby formula additive that, he says, caused the death of his infant son.

Jaden Santos was nearly three months old when he died in the Spring of 2011 of necrotizing enterocolitis, a condition that attacks intestinal tissue.

Jaden, who was born premature, had been given SimplyThick in the neonatal unit at Florida Hospital and was sent home with packets of additive. The product was developed to add to breast milk or formula to  help premature babies with swallowing difficulties.

About a month after Jaden died, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning against using SimplyThick for premature infants because of concerns it causes necrotizing enterocolitis.

The makers of SimplyThick then recalled the thickening gel that was made at its plant in Georgia.

In the lawsuit, Jaden's father, Erik, alleges that the FDA found numerous deficiencies during inspections at the Georgia plant. The suit also alleges that the company was aware of the defects in its product before Jaden's death.

Jaden's twin sister also spent her first months in the hospital, but was not given SimplyThick. She is doing well, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

The FDA has identified about two dozen cases of infants who developed necrotizing enterocolitis after being fed SimplyThick. Seven of them have died, although it is unclear if the death was tied to the product.

SimplyThick was distributed nationwide, including throughout Pennsylvania. If you believe you or a loved one has suffered as a result of the product, please contact our Philadelphia wrongful death lawyers to determine if you have a potential lawsuit.

Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Ross Feller Casey have extensive experience in litigating wrongful death cases. Some of the noteworthy cases include:

•    $36.4 million settlement for the family of a man who died in a refinery explosion.
•    $25 million verdict for the death of a physician as a result of medical negligence.
•    $7 million settlement for the death of a woman during the delivery of her twin babies.
•    $7 million recovery for a wrongful death in New Jersey caused by an auto defect.
•    $5.5 million settlement for a woman who died as a result of the failure to diagnose cervical cancer.
•    $4.5 million settlement for the family of a woman who died from medical negligence.