Baby Formula Recall: What's Happening and Why It Matters

A big recall is underway for ByHeart's organic baby formula. This comes after a number of babies got sick with infant botulism. The recall now covers all of their products, not just a few batches. Fifteen babies in twelve states have fallen ill since August. All of them were given ByHeart formula. The babies were all hospitalized, but thankfully, no deaths have been reported. ByHeart decided to recall all their products, even though tests on unopened cans didn't find any contamination. The bacteria that causes botulism is common in the environment, so it might not have come from the formula itself. California health officials found the toxin in an open can of ByHeart formula that was given to a sick baby. This led the FDA to recommend a wider recall. The FDA is looking into 84 cases of infant botulism since August, with 15 of them linked to ByHeart formula. ByHeart makes about 200, 000 cans of formula each month. You can find their products in stores like Target, Walmart, Albertsons, and Whole Foods. The company is now testing every batch of formula with an independent lab and giving health officials full access to their sites. Infant botulism is rare but serious. It happens when babies eat bacteria that produce a toxin in their gut. Symptoms include constipation, poor feeding, weak muscles, and trouble breathing. If a baby shows these signs, they need medical help right away. The only treatment is BabyBIG, a special IV medicine. ByHeart is doing everything they can to fix this problem. They are working closely with the FDA and taking steps to make sure their formula is safe. But this recall is a big deal and shows how important it is to keep an eye on the safety of baby formula.