Investigation into infant botulism case linked to ByHeart formula
A 10-month-old boy in Portland, Oregon, is battling to recover from infant botulism after consuming contaminated ByHeart baby formula via a program aimed at assisting underprivileged families, reports BritPanorama.
Ashaan Carter has been hospitalized twice and is currently dependent on a feeding tube following his diagnosis, which is part of a broader incident involving over 50 infants across the U.S. affected by this dangerous infection.
His mother, Angel Carter, received the formula from a case worker with the Oregon Department of Human Services in early November, shortly before the product was subject to a nationwide recall. Carter, whose milk supply was diminishing, accepted the formula, which the case worker described as “closest to breast milk.” “I accepted it thinking, ‘OK, I’m hoping my baby can get on a bottle,’” she said.
However, shortly after consuming the formula, Ashaan exhibited severe symptoms, including constipation and muscle weakness that rendered him unable to move his head. After an initial visit to an emergency room, he was transferred to Randall Children’s Hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with presumed infant botulism associated with the ByHeart formula, according to Dr. Sylvia Peterson-Perry, who delivered Ashaan and is overseeing his treatment.
Ashaan received treatment with BabyBIG, an intravenous medication providing antibodies to combat the illness. Despite a nearly two-week hospitalization in November, his condition worsened, necessitating further hospitalization in December due to significant weight loss. His mother expressed her fears for his health, stating, “He was just withering away.”
State officials did not comment on the specifics of Carter’s case but confirmed that the Oregon Department of Human Services had received ByHeart formula from PDX Diaper Bank, part of ByHeart’s “OpenHearted Initiative” which aimed to distribute the formula to families in need. Since June 2022, the initiative has seen nearly 24,000 cans of formula distributed to various nonprofit organizations.
Post-recall, the caseworker alerted Carter via text to discontinue using the formula, but the warning came too late for Ashaan. His recovery now entails relearning basic functions such as crawling and speaking. Dr. Peterson-Perry stated the situation is “devastating, especially for our vulnerable families who are trusting this product to nourish their child and trusting our social services to provide safe food for their babies.”
ByHeart had collaborated with Baby2Baby, which received approximately 400 cans of donated formula. Rachel Alston, executive director of PDX Diaper Bank, noted they distributed over 300 cans prior to the recall, affirming that all partners acted swiftly to inform families and offer support when needed.
In ongoing developments, no new cases of infant botulism have been reported linked to this outbreak since mid-December. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration are actively investigating the contamination’s source, with production at ByHeart’s facilities currently halted.
Legal ramifications are unfolding as food safety lawyer Bill Marler represents more than 30 families impacted by the contaminated products. At least 18 lawsuits have been initiated against ByHeart and retailers, with Marler recently seeking federal consolidation of these cases in a New York district court.
