BOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced that an infant formula manufacturer issued a recall for possible botulism contamination.
ByHeart, Inc., based in New York City, voluntarily recalled all lots of its powdered infant formula on Nov. 11. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its investigation of an outbreak of infant botulism linked to the company’s produce on Nov. 8.
Infant botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. An infant who inhales or swallows spores produced by the bacteria can led to spores growing inside the body. Symptoms can take days or weeks to appear.
DPH says the symptoms include:
- Constipation;
- Poor feeding (sucking and swallowing);
- Loss of head control;
- Difficulty swallowing;
- Decreased facial expression;
- A weak or altered cry; or
- other signs of muscle weakness
Exposed infants must receive treatment quickly or symptoms may progress to flaccid (floppy) paralysis and breathing difficulties.
DPH says parents and caregivers should throw away ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula immediately. They also say to take a photo of the lot numbers on the bottom of the cans and check for any formula removed from the original packaging.
After disposal, wash all surfaces the formula may have contacted with hot soapy water or in a dishwasher.
Any infant which consumed the company’s products should be brought for immediate medical attention.
