Federal and state health officials are currently investigating 13 cases of infant botulism that have been linked to a baby formula recall, as announced by authorities on Saturday.
ByHeart Inc. has commenced a recall of two lots of its Whole Nutrition Infant Formula in response to these incidents, as stated in a release from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
All 13 infants involved in the reported cases were hospitalized after consuming formula from the affected lots: 206VABP/251261P2 and 206VABP/251131P2.
The states affected by this issue include Arizona, California, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington.
Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported at this time. However, the FDA is actively investigating the root cause of the contamination and whether additional products may be affected.
The recalled baby formula, which is readily available online and at major retail locations, represents around 1% of the national baby formula market, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Consumers who have purchased the recalled formula are advised to document the lot number before discarding it or returning it to the place of purchase, as highlighted by the CDC.
Additionally, users are encouraged to sanitize any items or surfaces that may have come into contact with the formula by using a dishwasher or hot, soapy water. Parents should also seek prompt medical attention if their infant exhibits symptoms such as poor feeding, loss of head control, difficulty swallowing, or decreased facial expression after consuming the recalled formula.
Infant botulism is caused by a bacterium that produces harmful toxins in the intestines, and symptoms may take weeks to manifest, prompting the CDC to remind parents to remain vigilant.
A representative from ByHeart did not respond immediately to inquiries for comment.
