Health officials are investigating a serious outbreak of infant botulism that has been linked to a baby formula brand called ByHeart. At least 31 infants across 15 U.S. states have been hospitalized. In response, the company has recalled all of its ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula, including both canned and single-serve stick versions.
What Is Infant Botulism
Infant botulism is a rare but serious illness. It happens when babies ingest Clostridium botulinum spores, which can grow in their intestines and release dangerous toxins. Early signs often include constipation, trouble feeding (especially sucking or swallowing), and weak muscle control. If left untreated, it can lead to paralysis and severe breathing problems. Treatment usually involves a special antitoxin called BabyBIG.
The Formula Recall
After the first cases were reported, ByHeart initially recalled two specific lots of their powdered formula.
But as more babies became sick, the recall was expanded to all unexpired ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula, across all formats. Health authorities are urging parents and caregivers to stop using any ByHeart formula immediately. If you have leftovers, label them “DO NOT USE”, store them safely for about a month, and keep the packaging or lot information in case it’s needed for testing later. Also, clean all bottles, surfaces, and feeding equipment that may have touched the formula — use hot, soapy water or a dishwasher.
Symptoms to Watch For
Parents whose babies consumed the recalled ByHeart formula should closely monitor for signs of botulism, even if their child seems fine at first.
Key warning symptoms include:
- Difficulty swallowing or feeding
- Weak or floppy muscle tone
- Loss of head control
- Drooping facial expressions or weak cry
Because symptoms can take up to several weeks to appear, medical experts emphasize the importance of vigilance. If any of these symptoms show up, seek medical care right away.
Why Some Concern Remains
Even though the formula has been recalled, some recalled cans were still being found on store shelves. Then there’s the bigger issue: the bacteria that causes botulism is very common in the environment, which makes pinpointing how it ended up in the formula difficult. Health officials are inspecting ByHeart’s factories and working with the company to figure out how widespread the contamination is.
What to Do as a Parent
- Stop using any ByHeart Whole Nutrition formula.
- Keep the formula instead of throwing it away (label it and save the lot info).
- Clean feeding gear thoroughly with hot water or a dishwasher.
- Watch your baby carefully for signs of weakness, swallowing problems, or other unusual symptoms.
- Talk to a doctor if anything seems off, especially since the effects may take weeks to develop.
- Stay updated through reliable health authorities on the investigation and any new alerts.
Final Thoughts
This infant botulism outbreak is especially alarming because it involves a product meant to nourish babies. While botulism in infants is quite rare, the scale of this incident shows how critical product safety and swift public health responses are. For parents, the most important steps are to stop using the formula, remain alert for symptoms, and contact a healthcare provider immediately if something seems wrong.
