Infant Botulism Outbreak Doubles, ByHeart Formula Tied to Bacteria

Shares in ByHeart plummeted on Thursday after the company announced that its own testing identified the bacterium that causes botulism in its baby formula, which is linked to an ongoing infant botulism outbreak that has doubled since last week. As of November 19, there have been 31 cases across 15 states, up from 15 cases in 12 states reported last week. All 31 cases so far have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. The outbreak was announced on November 8, and ByHeart was initially aggressive in deflecting blame for linked illnesses. However, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) started to notice a pattern of ByHeart exposure among the cases. The CDPH is the world's sole source of the infant botulism treatment BabyBIG, and as such, is contacted when any infant botulism cases arise. "We were concerned about the potential link between ByHeart formula and the infant botulism cases, and we began to investigate further," said Dr. Erica Pan, the State Public Health Officer for California. "Our testing confirmed the presence of Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium that causes botulism, in the ByHeart formula." According to Dr. Pan, the CDPH has been working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to investigate the outbreak. "We are taking this situation very seriously and are working to identify the source of the contamination and prevent further cases," she added. ByHeart products account for just 1 percent of infant formula sales, but babies fed ByHeart formula accounted for 40 percent of infant botulism cases with dry formula exposure between August 1 and November 8. This has raised concerns about the safety of the formula and the potential risks to infants who have consumed it. Infant botulism is a rare but serious illness that occurs when a baby ingests the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which can be found in soil, water, and food. The illness can cause symptoms such as muscle weakness, drooping eyelids, and difficulty swallowing, and can be life-threatening if left untreated. The CDC recommends that parents and caregivers seek medical attention immediately if they suspect their infant has botulism. "If you are concerned about your baby's symptoms, do not hesitate to contact your pediatrician or seek medical attention," said Dr. Pan. The CDPH and CDC are continuing to investigate the outbreak and are working to prevent further cases. In the meantime, parents and caregivers are advised to check the expiration dates of their baby formula and to discard any formula that has been recalled. ByHeart has issued a voluntary recall of its affected formula, and parents who have purchased the formula are advised to contact the company for further instructions. As the investigation continues, the CDPH and CDC are urging parents and caregivers to remain vigilant and to seek medical attention immediately if they suspect their infant has botulism.