Court Dismisses Autism Claims in Baby Food Suit, IQ Loss Claims Proceed
Judge dismisses autism and ADHD claims against baby food firms in MDL 3101.
Why it matters: This ruling limits liability exposure of baby food manufacturers on autism and ADHD claims due to lack of evidence, yet preserves ongoing litigation over IQ loss and learning disabilities. It highlights the evolving legal challenges in product-related neurodevelopmental claims.
- U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley granted partial summary judgment on Oct 14, 2026, dismissing autism and ADHD claims due to insufficient evidence.
- Claims alleging IQ loss and learning disabilities linked to baby food products will move forward.
- The summary judgment excludes claims related to infant formula consumption.
- MDL No. 3101 includes 497 pending cases involving major baby food brands like Gerber, Beech-Nut, and Nestlé.
On October 14, 2026, U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley issued a ruling granting partial summary judgment in the multidistrict litigation known as MDL No. 3101, which consolidates hundreds of lawsuits against baby food manufacturers.
The court dismissed claims alleging that baby food products caused autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), citing "no admissible evidence supporting the general causation element of their claims," according to the judge's statement. This ruling narrows the scope of the litigation by rejecting allegations based on insufficient scientific proof that these products cause such neurodevelopmental disorders.
However, the ruling preserves other claims that allege baby food products caused loss of IQ and learning disabilities. These claims were not addressed in the recent summary judgment and remain active within the litigation. Additionally, the dismissal does not impact claims related to the consumption of infant formula, which continue separately.
The MDL is centralized in the Northern District of California and includes cases against some of the largest baby food manufacturers like Gerber, Beech-Nut, Earth's Best Organic, Plum Organics, Sprout, Happy Family/Nurture, Walmart's Parent's Choice, Nestlé, and Campbell's. As of October 1, 2026, there are 497 pending actions out of 514 total historically filed within this MDL.
The litigation originally gained traction after a 2021 congressional report revealed significant levels of toxic heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury in commercial baby foods. Plaintiffs have pursued claims that exposure to these metals caused various neurodevelopmental issues in children.
This recent ruling clarifies which claims have sufficient evidentiary support to proceed versus those that do not, shaping the trajectory of this complex, large-scale product liability litigation.
By the numbers:
- 497 pending lawsuits — in MDL No. 3101 as of October 1, 2026
- 514 total lawsuits — historically filed in MDL No. 3101
- October 14, 2026 — date of the partial summary judgment ruling
Yes, but: While autism and ADHD claims were dismissed, key allegations regarding IQ loss and learning disabilities remain active, so litigation is ongoing in important respects.
What's next: Further discovery and litigation will continue on claims related to IQ loss, learning disabilities, and infant formula products in MDL No. 3101.