"Federal health officials on Wednesday expanded an outbreak of infant botulism tied to recalled ByHeart baby formula to include all illnesses reported since the company began production in March 2022. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said investigators "cannot rule out the possibility that contamination might have affected all ByHeart formula products" ever made. The outbreak now includes at least 51 infants in 19 states."
"The new case definition includes "any infant with botulism who was exposed to ByHeart formula at any time since the product's release," according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The most recent illness was reported on Dec. 1. No deaths have been reported in the outbreak, which was announced Nov. 8. Previously, health officials had said the outbreak included 39 suspected or confirmed cases of infant botulism reported in 18 states since August."
"News that ByHeart products could have been contaminated for years was distressing to Andi Galindo, whose 5-week-old daughter, Rowan, was hospitalized in December 2023 with infant botulism after drinking the formula. Galindo, 36, of Redondo Beach, California, said she insisted on using ByHeart formula to supplement a low supply of breast milk because it was recommended by a lactation consultant as "very natural, very gentle, very good for the babies.""
An outbreak of infant botulism tied to ByHeart infant formula has been expanded to include all illnesses reported since the company began production in March 2022. Investigators cannot rule out that contamination might have affected all ByHeart formula products. The outbreak includes at least 51 infants across 19 states, with the most recent illness reported on Dec. 1 and no deaths reported. ByHeart recalled all products sold in the U.S. on Nov. 11. The company accounted for about 1% of the U.S. infant formula market and sold about 200,000 cans per month. Families of affected infants report distress and hospitalization.
Read at ABC7 Los Angeles
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