Mary Gilmore, Staff Writer
The New York State Department of Health has issued a public health alert following a nationwide recall of ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula due to a multistate outbreak of infant botulism. No cases have been reported in New York to date, although the company is a New York City based company.
Federal health officials stated that thus far, at least 31 babies across 15 states have been hospitalized and treated for infant botulism since August. The most recent case was reported on November 13. All of these babies drank ByHeart formula prior to the hospitalization and their ages range from two weeks to six months.
In general, the rate of infant botulism has increased in the past few months, whether caused by baby formula or not. Around 85 babies have been treated with the disease since August. Approximately 35% of the cases were due to ByHeart baby formula, but this raises concern surrounding why and what has caused the other cases.
Infant botulism is caused by a bacteria-producing toxin, which can cause a slow form of paralysis in infants. Signs of infant botulism include constipation, poor feeding, drooping eyelids, weak crying, and muscle weakness. If an infant shows any signs of illness, caregivers should seek medical care as soon as possible, especially if the child has consumed ByHeart formula. In children under one year of age, infant botulism spores can lead to a serious illness. Infant botulism is a slow disease that gets gradually worse over time, so noticing the symptoms early can save an infant from paralysis.
Even though New York State has not had any issues yet, the Department of Health is conducting surveillance for any infant botulism hospitalizations. They are also working with clinical laboratories to support testing and case investigation.
State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald spoke on this topic, stating, “It’s critically important that we inform the public of this updated recall as it now includes all infant formula products by this company rather than a selected few. We urge parents and caregivers to immediately stop using all ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula products and follow the FDA’s instructions for safe disposal or replacement. While no cases have been reported in New York State, the Department is closely coordinating with FDA, CDC and local health departments to ensure New York families remain safe and informed.”
ByHeart products account for approximately 1% of the United States infant formula manufactured. Officials have assured that the recall does not pose a threat to overall formula availability.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has launched an FDA review of infant formula ingredients to ensure the safety and nutritional quality of these essential products. The FDA’s investigation remains ongoing, and further updates are expected as more data becomes available. Meanwhile, the CDC continues to coordinate with state health departments to track and manage the outbreak.
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