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Friday, March 29, 2024

Abbott Labs to pay $50,000 for alleged deceptive survey marketing of new parents

State AG
Law money 04

ALBANY, N.Y. — Illinois-based Abbott Laboratories has reached a $50,000 settlement with the state of New York to resolve allegations the company falsely led survey participants to believe their information would be used for scientific research but was used for company marketing.

According to the New York Attorney General's Office, Abbott, which makes Similac infant formula, sent a letter and survey to new parents on infant-feeding stating it was for the "National Institute of Infant Nutrition," which does not exist, and that the survey information was for "important research." However, Abbott used the surveys to obtain information for its company marketing, the Attorney General's Office said. 

‘This survey was a formula for deception,” New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood said in a statement.  “My office will not allow any business to mislead New Yorkers into sharing private information under false pretenses.”


According to Underwood's office, Abbott sent out more than 200,000 letters/surveys to parents with newborns in New York that contained a logo from the "National Institute of Infant Nutrition."

As part of the settlement, any future surveys sent out by Abbott must include the company's name or name of the third party who is doing the market research for Abbott, the Attorney General's Office said. 

 

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