Baby formula recall linked to infant botulism outbreak is expanding | Here's what to know

"ByHeart, which makes organic infant formula, recalled all of its products sold throughout the U.S. on Tuesday amid a growing outbreak of infant botulism. At least 15 babies in 12 states have been sickened in the outbreak tied to ByHeart formula, state and federal health officials said. That's an increase from 13 cases in 10 states reported Saturday. No deaths have been reported in the outbreak, which began in mid-August."

"California officials confirmed that a sample from an open can of ByHeart baby formula fed to an infant who fell ill contained the type of bacteria that causes the toxin linked to the outbreak. The tests to confirm contamination involve injecting mice with the cultured bacterium and then waiting up to four days to see if they get sick. "These mice got sick really quickly," Pan said in an interview."

"The FDA is investigating 84 cases of infant botulism detected since August. Of those, 36 consumed infant formula - more than a third of them ByHeart's formula, the agency said in a statement. "This information shows that ByHeart brand formula is disproportionately represented among sick infants in this outbreak, especially given that ByHeart represents an estimated 1% of all infant formula sales in the United States," the FDA said."

ByHeart recalled all its U.S. organic infant formula after an outbreak of infant botulism linked to its powdered product. At least 15 infants aged 2 weeks to 5 months in 12 states were hospitalized after consuming the formula; no deaths have been reported. California found the outbreak strain in an opened can fed to a sick infant, and laboratory confirmation uses mouse bioassays that showed rapid illness. The FDA is investigating 84 botulism cases since August, 36 of which involved infant formula and over a third linked to ByHeart. Parents and caregivers should stop using and dispose of any ByHeart formula.

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