Baby Formula Recall Amid Infant Botulism Cases in 10 States

Overview of the Situation

Federal and state health officials are currently investigating 13 cases of infant botulism attributed to a specific baby formula produced by ByHeart Inc. The company has initiated a recall of two lots of its Whole Nutrition Infant Formula following reports of hospitalizations among infants in ten states.

Details of the Recall

The affected formula lots are identified as 206VABP/251261P2 and 206VABP/251131P2. The 13 documented cases have emerged in the following states: Arizona, California, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington. Fortunately, there have been no reports of fatalities linked to these cases.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is actively investigating the source of the contamination and determining whether other products may be impacted.

Statement from ByHeart Inc.

Mia Funt, co-founder and president of ByHeart, expressed the company’s commitment to customer safety in response to the concerns raised by this incident. “The safety and well-being of every infant who uses our formula is our absolute highest priority,” said Funt. “We take any potential safety concern extremely seriously and act quickly to protect families. As parents ourselves, we understand the concern this news may raise.”

ByHeart’s Whole Nutrition Infant Formula is available online and through major retailers and comprises approximately 1% of national infant formula sales, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Recommendations for Consumers

In light of the recall, the CDC has provided guidelines for consumers who may have purchased the affected formula. Parents are advised to:

• Record the lot numbers of any recalled formula before disposing of it or returning it to the store.
• Clean any items and surfaces that may have come into contact with the formula using a dishwasher or hot, soapy water.
• Seek immediate medical attention if their infant exhibits symptoms such as poor feeding, loss of head control, difficulty swallowing, or decreased facial expression.

Understanding Infant Botulism

Infant botulism is a serious condition caused by a bacterium that produces toxins in the large intestine. Symptoms can take weeks to appear, prompting the CDC to recommend vigilance among parents. Signs of infant botulism may include:

• Constipation
• Poor feeding
• Drooping eyelids (ptosis)
• Sluggish pupils
• A flattened facial expression
• Weak or altered cry
• Respiratory difficulties

Parents are urged to monitor for these symptoms, which could lead to more severe respiratory problems.

For further updates and information, individuals should stay tuned to official health department communications and the FDA’s announcements regarding the ongoing investigation.