Reckitt Benckiser’s shares slump after Abbott baby formula ruling over bowel disease link

British group says claims products cause serious bowel condition NEC are ‘not supported by science’

Reckitt Benckiser’s share price has dropped to a 10-year low after a US court ruled that a formula produced by rival Abbott Laboratories had caused a baby girl to develop a serious bowel disease.

Shares in the British consumer goods group, which is facing similar legal action over its Enfamil formula, saw its shares plunge by about 9% to roughly £40.75 a share on Monday after Abbott was ordered to pay $495m (£385m) in damages by a court in Missouri on Friday.