Baby Formula Recalled After Infant Botulism Cases Reported in 10 States
A nationwide recall has been issued for a popular baby formula brand after nearly a dozen infants across the United States were hospitalized with botulism-like symptoms.
ByHeart Inc., the manufacturer of Whole Nutrition Infant Formula, announced a voluntary recall of two production lots — 206VABP/251261P2 and 206VABP/251131P2 — following reports of 13 cases of infant botulism in ten states, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The affected cases were reported in Arizona, California, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington. While all 13 infants were hospitalized, no deaths have been reported, officials said.
The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are jointly investigating the source of the contamination and whether other batches or related products may have been impacted.
“The safety and well-being of every infant who uses our formula is our absolute highest priority,” said Mia Funt, ByHeart’s co-founder and president. “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. This voluntary recall is out of an abundance of caution and comes from our ongoing commitment to transparency and safety.”
The recalled formula, which represents about 1% of national baby formula sales, was sold both online and in major retail stores nationwide.
The CDC has urged parents to check the lot numbers on their formula containers and to discard or return any affected products immediately. Surfaces or feeding equipment that came in contact with the recalled formula should be thoroughly washed with hot, soapy water or cleaned in a dishwasher to prevent contamination.
Parents are also advised to seek immediate medical care if their infant experiences difficulty swallowing, poor feeding, weak cry, loss of head control, or decreased facial movement after consuming the formula.
Infant botulism, while rare, is a serious condition caused by a toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria in the intestine. The illness can develop slowly over several weeks, and symptoms may include constipation, lethargy, drooping eyelids, weakened reflexes, and breathing difficulties.
Consumers can find updates and instructions for refunds or replacements on the FDA’s recall website or directly through ByHeart’s customer support page.
Photo credit: Flickr
