NYC Grandmother Files a Lawsuit Against PediaSure Maker: Unsure Over Height and False Promises
Joanne Noriega alleges that she gave her grandson two PediaSure drinks per day for an entire year, following the belief that the product would help him grow taller.
A New York City woman is suing Abbott Laboratories, the maker of PediaSure nutrition drinks, accusing them of false advertising and misleading claims. Bronx resident Joanne Noriega claims that the product failed to make her 8-year-old grandson taller, as she had hoped, and instead caused him to become overweight. In this blog post, we will dive into the details of the case and the surrounding controversy.
Joanne Noriega alleges that she gave her grandson two PediaSure drinks per day for an entire year, following the belief that the product would help him grow taller. However, by February, she realized that her grandson was not only short for his age but also became "so overweight" that she decided to stop buying the drinks altogether.
Noriega has dismissed PediaSure as "just a flavored sugar and milk-based drink that contains vitamins," arguing that it is not a cure for shortness. Based on their own studies, she claims that Abbott Laboratories is aware that their "Clinically Proven Claim" is false and misleading.
The lawsuit filed by Noriega seeks unspecified damages for New Yorkers who were allegedly deceived into buying or overpaying for PediaSure. This case highlights the importance of truth in advertising and companies' responsibility to ensure their marketing claims are accurate and supported by evidence.
In response to the lawsuit, Abbott has stated that PediaSure is intended for children ages two to 13 and has been clinically shown to help children "grow out of at-risk weight-for-height percentiles (5th-25th percentiles)" within eight weeks. The company stands by its product, which is part of its pediatric nutritional segment, alongside other well-known brands such as Pedialyte and Similac.
It is worth noting that U.S. sales from Abbott's pediatric nutritional segment fell 29% last year. This decline was primarily due to the company's recall of infant formula from a Michigan plant, which has likely added to the financial strain on the company as it faces this new lawsuit.
The case of Joanne Noriega vs. Abbott Laboratories brings to light the ongoing debate surrounding truth in advertising and the responsibility of companies to ensure their products deliver on their promises. As the lawsuit unfolds, it will be interesting to see how both parties present their arguments and whether this case will lead to any changes in the marketing of PediaSure or other similar products. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
