Botulism cases in infants rise to 31 recall ByHeart baby formula
Published by RawNews1st
Despite the expanded recall of all ByHeart infant formula products, the FDA said it received multiple reports that the baby formula is still being found on store shelves in multiple states.
There are now at least 31 reported cases of infant botulism associated with various lots of the ByHeart Whole Nutrition infant formula, the FDA said Wednesday. The infants were hospitalized across 15 states since Aug. 9, with the most recent case reported on Nov. 13, but no deaths have been reported.
Symptoms of infant botulism can take weeks to develop and can include poor feeding, loss of head control, drooping eyelids and a flat facial expression, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Babies may feel “floppy” and can have problems swallowing or breathing.
The FDA’s update also said the recalled products have been sold online and shipped outside the U.S., cautioning consumers to not use any of the ByHeart brand products.
“We are doing everything we can to show up for parents,” ByHeart said in a statement on Nov. 13. “Please know that we are actively working on updates, and we will keep sharing information as quickly and clearly as we can.”
The parents of at least two babies sickened in the infantile botulism outbreak last week said they are suing the makers of the ByHeart baby formula. The lawsuits, filed in federal courts in two states, allege that the ByHeart formula the babies consumed was defective and the company was negligent in selling it. They seek financial payment for medical bills, emotional distress and other harm.
“It was just absolutely terrifying,” Hanna Everett told CBS News in an interview. “You know, we just kind of felt like we failed as a parent in some ways.”
