A Portland, Oregon, boy is struggling to recover from infant botulism after drinking contaminated ByHeart baby formula donated through a program that aims to help poor and homeless families.
Ashaan Carter, now 10 months old, was hospitalized twice and remains on a feeding tube after contracting the dangerous infection that has sickened more than 50 babies across the U.S.
His mother, Angel Carter, said she received a can of ByHeart formula from a caseworker with the Oregon Department of Human Services in early November, just before a nationwide recall of the product.
Carter had been exclusively breastfeeding Ashaan, but as her milk supply decreased, the caseworker assured her that the ByHeart formula was closest to breast milk and could help. “I accepted it thinking, ‘OK, I’m hoping my baby can get on a bottle,’” said Carter. “It’s been all downhill since then.”
State officials did not comment on Carter’s case but acknowledged that the agency received ByHeart formula from PDX Diaper Bank, one of many nonprofits involved in ByHeart’s “OpenHearted Initiative”, donating formula to families in need.
More than 24,000 cans of formula have been distributed since June 2022. However, all products have been recalled due to contamination risk since production began in March 2022.
After consuming the ByHeart formula, Ashaan developed severe constipation and muscle weakness, to the point where he was unable to move his head. He was transferred from an emergency room to Randall Children's Hospital in Portland where doctors diagnosed him with presumed infant botulism linked to the formula.
He received treatment with BabyBIG, an IV medication that provides antibodies to counteract the infection. Although discharged without a feeding tube following an initial hospitalization, Ashaan's health quickly deteriorated, leading to another hospitalization in December during which he experienced significant weight loss.
As his situation worsened, Carter received a warning from the caseworker to stop using the formula, but by then, it was too late for Ashaan, who now requires a feeding tube due to lingering muscle weakness.
"It's devastating, especially for our vulnerable families who are trusting this product to nourish their child and trusting our social services to provide safe food for their babies,” said Dr. Sylvia Peterson-Perry.
ByHeart's partners, including Baby2Baby—a Los Angeles-based nonprofit with celebrity supporters—distributed over 300 cans of the recalled formula. PDX Diaper Bank also received about 400 cans before the recall.
Currently, no new cases of infant botulism related to this outbreak have been reported since December 17. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is investigating potential contamination sources at ByHeart facilities, which remain closed. Bill Marler, a Seattle food safety lawyer, is representing Carter and more than 30 other families affected, as at least 18 lawsuits have been filed against ByHeart.
