However, when it moved into baby formula, with a £13billion takeover of Mead Johnson five years ago, it entered trickier territory. Baby formula, while providing nutrition, has long been regarded as controversial and a poor substitute for mother's milk and divides opinion. Plaintiffs are claiming Mead Johnson (and Abbott's baby formula) is responsible for causing the death of prenatal babies. One mooted solution is to hive off Mead Johnson into a separate entity. A more politically aware Reckitt board should have recognised that involvement in baby formula would be fraught and carry enormous litigation risks.

Source: Daily Mail May 13, 2024 02:51 UTC