Federal health officials on Wednesday expanded an outbreak of infant botulism linked to recalled ByHeart baby formula to include all reported illnesses since the company's production began in March 2022.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration stated that investigators cannot rule out the possibility of contamination affecting all ByHeart formula products manufactured. The current outbreak now includes at least 51 infants across 19 states, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defining cases as any infant exposed to ByHeart formula since its release.
As of December 1, no fatalities have been reported. The previous case count stood at 39 suspected or confirmed cases across 18 states, recognized after California officials noted an uptick in infant botulism cases linked to ByHeart's products.
ByHeart, a New York-based organic infant formula manufacturer established in 2016, recalled all its U.S. products on November 11, following reports of contamination. The company was selling around 200,000 cans per month, accounting for about 1% of the U.S. market.
Parents like Andi Galindo, whose infant daughter suffered from botulism, are expressing outrage over the contamination claims. If there is proof that there were issues with their manufacturing from the beginning, they should be held accountable, said Galindo.
The FDA recently conducted inspections at ByHeart facilities, yet results from these inspections have yet to be released. Independent lab tests had previously shown contamination in 36 samples from different batches.
Infant botulism affects fewer than 200 infants annually in the U.S., caused by spores that germinate in baby intestines. Symptoms can include constipation, weakness, and difficulty swallowing or breathing. The only treatment available, known as BabyBIG, is made from pooled plasma of adults immunized against the bacteria. Families of affected infants have begun lawsuits against ByHeart, alleging negligence and seeking compensation for medical expenses and emotional distress.
