SAN ANTONIO – A company that makes organic baby formula is recalling all of its products over an infant botulism outbreak.
On Tuesday, ByHeart said it made the move after an expanding outbreak of infant botulism.
According to ABC News, company officials said they enacted the unusual recall “in close collaboration” with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “despite the fact that no unopened ByHeart product has tested positive” for the contamination.
The Food and Drug Administration said at least 15 babies across 12 states have “suspected or confirmed” cases of infant botulism after consuming ByHeart’s powdered infant formula. At least two of the hospitalizations occurred in Texas. No deaths have been reported.
Infant botulism can be life-threatening. The bacterial infection can lead to muscle paralysis and affect breathing and other parts of the body.
“If the baby’s been exposed to this particular formula and they’re seeing any symptoms that show that the baby seems weaker, a weaker cry, a weaker suck, difficulty feeding, most definitely difficulty breathing, would mean you absolutely need to seek medical care immediately,” said Dr. Sebrina Perkins, a pediatric emergency physician at CHRISTUS Children’s Hospital.
ByHeart is sold online and at stores such as Target, Walmart, Albertsons and Whole Foods.
The FDA is investigating the outbreak. On Tuesday, the agency said it hasn’t identified any other infant formula brands or other sources of exposure in the outbreak.
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