Necrotizing enterocolitis, or NEC, is a serious gastrointestinal disease that is known to affect the intestines of premature infants.  Typically occurring within the first 2 weeks of life in babies who are fed formula as opposed to breast milk, the condition inflames intestinal tissue and can be a cause of death.  Once the disease is contracted, the bacteria invade the walls of the intestine and can leak into the abdomen (belly) or bloodstream through a hole causing devastating complications.  It’s worth noting that the risk of developing NEC in premature infants is substantially heightened with cow’s milk-based formulas, such as Enfamil and Similac.  There is now a mass lawsuit led by parents against the manufacturers of these types of cow’s milk-based baby formulas.