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- The Rhode Island Department of Health has warned about ByHeart infant formula after a child was hospitalized with infant botulism.
- Families are advised not to use ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula with lot codes 206VABP/251261P2 or 206VABP/251131P2.
- The FDA and CDC are investigating infant botulism cases in multiple states, with several infants having consumed the ByHeart formula.
- Infant botulism is a serious but treatable condition, and most children recover fully with prompt medical care.
The Rhode Island Department of Health has issued a warning about a brand of infant formula after a child was hospitalized with infant botulism, according to a news release.
The child was hospitalized after developing symptoms on Oct. 24 and has since been discharged and is recovering, the health department said. The infant botulism diagnosis was confirmed on Nov. 7.
Babies get infant botulism if they eat something containing spores from the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. This child had consumed ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula, a milk-based powder formula with iron for children age 0 to 12 months, which had been purchased online, the news release said.
The health department said it is supporting an investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after infant botulism cases were reported in multiple states; several of the infants consumed ByHeart powdered infant formula.
Which lot numbers of ByHeart formula are affected?
Families should not use the following lots of ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula:
- Lot: 206VABP/251261P2 (“Use by 01 Dec 2026”)
- Lot: 206VABP/251131P2 (“Use by 01 Dec 2026”)
The lot code and “Use by” date are found at the bottom of the infant formula can. Families who have this product with those lot codes should dispose of it immediately, the health department said.
ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula makes up an estimated less than 1% of all infant formula sold in the United States, so this outbreak does not create shortage concerns of infant formula, the news release said.
Infant botulism is a serious condition that can come on slowly and get gradually worse over time. If identified, it is very treatable with an antitoxin called botulism immune globulin, and the sooner treatment starts, the better the outcome. Most children recover fully from infant botulism, the health department said.
Children younger than age 1 should not be given honey, even if it is cooked, as infant botulism also can be caused by the spores in honey.
What are the symptoms of infant botulism?
Symptoms of infant botulism can include:
- Choking when trying to feed
- Constipation
- Weaker suck or poor feeding
- Eyelid drooping (ptosis)
- Lack of facial expressions, being unable to lift their head, or other signs of muscle weakness or paralysis
- Weaker crying
- Weakness or decreased muscle tone, especially starting at the top of their body and limbs, making your baby feel “floppy” and keeping them from reaching or grabbing
- Bowel movement changes, such as not defecating for days or even weeks at a time
Additional information about infant botulism is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at cdc.gov/botulism/about/index.html.
For more information related to this investigation, go to tinyurl.com/yc6jdfp8.
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