Baby Formula Recalled After Product Sickens 15 Infants

Botulinum found in ByHeart Baby Formula forces nationwide product recall.

by Jennifer Porter Gore, Word in Black

An infant formula manufacturer has announced a nationwide recall after an outbreak of botulism, traced to tainted batches of its product, hospitalized 15 babies in a dozen states. 

The recall of ByHeart Whole Nutrition powdered formula, announced on the company’s website, comes as the Food and Drug Administration investigates as many as 84 serious cases of infant botulism dating back to August. Authorities say the formula was contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, the potentially deadly bacteria that causes botulism.

“We’re writing to you today to tell you that we have decided to voluntarily recall all ByHeart formula nationwide” including cans and portable, single-serving packets, according to a statement on the company’s website. “This decision was made to ensure your baby’s safety.”

ByHeart had centered its recall on two batches of its Whole Nutrition Infant Formula on Nov. 8, but broadened it earlier this week “following notification from the [FDA] of a broader ongoing investigation into a recent outbreak of infant botulism,” according to the statement.

Federal health officials say botulism is a severe illness but that no deaths have been reported so far.

“Infant botulism is a rare but potentially fatal illness that presents a serious threat to the health of infants,” says Sandra Eskin, CEO of Stop Foodborne Illness and former food safety official with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Babies suffering from botulism, she says, may have a range of symptoms — from constipation and poor appetite to a droopy eyelid, difficulty sucking or swallowing, and respiratory distress. 

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