US Infant Formula Recall Widens: What You Need to Know
A nationwide recall of organic baby formula has been issued due to an outbreak of infant botulism linked to the product, which is manufactured by ByHeart. At least 15 babies in 12 states have fallen ill, with symptoms including poor feeding, loss of head control, and a flat facial expression.
According to health officials, babies aged two weeks to five months are particularly vulnerable to infection due to their underdeveloped gut microbiomes. The outbreak began in mid-August, and while no deaths have been reported, parents are advised to discontinue use and dispose of the formula immediately.
California officials confirmed that a sample from an open can of ByHeart baby formula contained the type of bacteria linked to the outbreak. The FDA is investigating 84 cases of infant botulism detected since August, with over a third of them linked to ByHeart's formula.
Infant botulism typically affects fewer than 200 babies in the US each year and is caused by a type of bacteria that produces a toxin in the large intestine. Symptoms can take weeks to develop and may include difficulty swallowing or breathing. Treatment involves administering an IV medication called BabyBIG, which has been effective in shortening hospital stays.
The recall has raised concerns about the safety of infant formula supplies, particularly given the recent Abbott Nutrition crisis in 2021-2022. While ByHeart represents a small share of the market, its products have also had issues in the past, including recalls due to contamination with cronobacter sakazakii.
Federal health officials are taking steps to review the ingredients and nutrients in infant formula as part of "Operation Stork Speed," a comprehensive overhaul of the US food supply. The FDA is reviewing comments from industry experts and the public to determine next steps.
A nationwide recall of organic baby formula has been issued due to an outbreak of infant botulism linked to the product, which is manufactured by ByHeart. At least 15 babies in 12 states have fallen ill, with symptoms including poor feeding, loss of head control, and a flat facial expression.
According to health officials, babies aged two weeks to five months are particularly vulnerable to infection due to their underdeveloped gut microbiomes. The outbreak began in mid-August, and while no deaths have been reported, parents are advised to discontinue use and dispose of the formula immediately.
California officials confirmed that a sample from an open can of ByHeart baby formula contained the type of bacteria linked to the outbreak. The FDA is investigating 84 cases of infant botulism detected since August, with over a third of them linked to ByHeart's formula.
Infant botulism typically affects fewer than 200 babies in the US each year and is caused by a type of bacteria that produces a toxin in the large intestine. Symptoms can take weeks to develop and may include difficulty swallowing or breathing. Treatment involves administering an IV medication called BabyBIG, which has been effective in shortening hospital stays.
The recall has raised concerns about the safety of infant formula supplies, particularly given the recent Abbott Nutrition crisis in 2021-2022. While ByHeart represents a small share of the market, its products have also had issues in the past, including recalls due to contamination with cronobacter sakazakii.
Federal health officials are taking steps to review the ingredients and nutrients in infant formula as part of "Operation Stork Speed," a comprehensive overhaul of the US food supply. The FDA is reviewing comments from industry experts and the public to determine next steps.
I'm still shaken by the Abbott Nutrition crisis in 2021-2022 and now another major recall like this? ByHeart's formula has had issues before too, like those cronobacter sakazakii recalls... what are we doing to regulate these companies?! 
I know some people are gonna say "well, it's just one brand" but let's be real, it's a brand that sells to millions of parents. How can they not have quality control in place? 
And now with Operation Stork Speed on the horizon, I'm kinda hoping this recall is a wake-up call for the industry. We need better safety measures in place, stat! 
15 babies? 
they can't even get it right for one batch... meanwhile, all us poor parents just wanna give our little ones some peace of mind and safe snacks 
I just made a little diagram to show how this outbreak could spread:
It's like a mini-overhaul of our food supply system. Fingers crossed they'll get it right this time! 
. I mean, don't even get me started on those gut microbiomes... two weeks to five months old and you're supposed to just be fine with whatever bacteria is in that formula? Give me a break 
. At least 15 babies fell ill, poor things... can we get some answers from the FDA yet?!
! I mean, 15 babies falling ill due to an outbreak linked to ByHeart formula is just devastating 
. And the fact that it took this long for the FDA to act on it 
is just frustrating 
.
. It's heartbreaking that parents have to go through this stress and worry for their babies' health 
.
. How many more lives could've been saved if this had happened sooner? 
And what about those who can't afford formula or access to proper healthcare? That's just not right 
. We need systemic changes, like universal healthcare and food security initiatives, to ensure all families have access to safe and nutritious food 
.
, but at least no deaths have been reported yet. Still, can we please just have a moment of transparency from the FDA? Like, exactly what went wrong here? It seems like they're taking it slow to review all these comments and ingredients 
.
My little one is still breastfeeding, thankfully, but I have three friends whose babies are dependent on formula... it's giving me anxiety just thinking about it 
. I hope the FDA gets to the bottom of this and makes some changes ASAP 
. And can we talk about how messed up our food supply system is?!