A nationwide recall has been issued for a specific brand of baby formula after dozens of infants reportedly experienced botulism, an illness caused by a toxin that can cause several health complications.
As of November 11, ByHeart has expanded its recall to include all batches of its formula nationwide, including cans and single-serve packs, according to a company announcement. The recall expansion came after 84 infant botulism cases were reported from August through November across multiple states, including Texas, California and New Jersey, AP reports. Of those 84 cases, 15 had consumed ByHeart formula and had been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported.
“The FDA’s investigation into infant botulism in the U.S. is still ongoing, and we feel that there are still too many unanswered questions,” the company’s founders wrote in a letter posted to ByHeart’s website. “At this moment, the most important thing for you to know is that all ByHeart product must be discarded.”
Despite the recall, the company insists in its public statement that no unopened ByHeart products have tested positive for Clostridium botulinum spores or toxins. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health are continuing to investigate this matter.
ByHeart formula was previously sold at retailers like H-E-B, Walmart and Target, but the products have since been pulled from digital marketplaces. If you have a ByHeart formula, it is advised that you dispose of it.
According to the CDC, infant botulism results from spores produced by Clostridium botulinum that settle in a baby’s digestive tract and produce a toxin that targets the body’s nerves. Symptoms of infant botulism include, but are not limited to, constipation, drooping eyelids, generalized weakness, poor feeding, low muscle tone, difficulty breathing and possible respiratory arrest.