The number of cases of infant botulism tied to a recalled formula has increased.
Now, there are 31 cases across 15 states tied to the recalled ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula products, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
ByHeart has since recalled all batches of the ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula cans and single-serve “anywhere pack” sticks.
"We continue to urge parents and caregivers to stop using ByHeart formula immediately," the company stated in an Instagram post. "Monitor your child for symptoms of infant botulism and seek medical care immediately if they develop symptoms."
Here's what to know about the recall.
When was the ByHeart formula recall first announced?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration first announced the voluntary recall of certain batches of ByHeart's infant formula on Nov. 8.
ByHeart formula recall tied to reported cases of infant botulism in 15 states
- Arizona
- California
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Texas
- Washington
It was initially 10 states, but that has now broadened to 15. New states include Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan and North Carolina. The states reporting the most cases are Oregon, California, Arizona and Texas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They each have two cases apiece. The rest only have one reported case.
What ByHeart formula products are being recalled?
ByHeart has voluntarily recalled all batches of its ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula cans and all Anywhere Packs.
Where was the recalled ByHeart formula sold?
The recalled products were sold online and in major retailers nationwide, according to the FDA.
Have there been any hospitalizations or deaths related to the ByHeart formula recall?
A total of 31 cases of infant botulism were reported, according to the USDA. Each case resulted in a hospitalization.
The dates when infants, who range in age from 16 to 200 days, became ill range from Aug. 9 to Nov. 13.
No deaths related to the recall have been reported.
What are the symptoms of infant botulism?
Parents and guardians who see the following symptoms in an infant should seek immediate medical care, according to the CDC:
- Poor feeding
- Loss of head control
- Difficulty swallowing
- Decreased facial expression
Parents and guardians who have recently fed their infant the recalled formula should remain vigilant, as botulism can take multiple weeks to develop.
Infant botulism can be fatal and should be taken care of immediately.
What should you do if you purchased the recalled ByHeart formula?
Parents who purchased the recalled formula should stop using it immediately and throw away or return all unopened products.
Those who purchased baby formula from ByHeart's website can receive a full refund for up to two products, whether in cans or Anywhere Packs, according to ByHeart's website. First-time customers are eligible to receive full refunds on their first order.
If the recalled baby formula was fed to an infant, the CDC asks parents not to throw away the leftover formula, but instead do the following:
- Take a picture of the lot number and best-by date located on the product's container
- Label it "DO NOT USE"
- Store it in a safe location for at least a month
- If a month passes, and the infant does not show signs of infant botulism, throw it away.
- If the infant does develop symptoms, the state's health department may want to collect the leftover formula for testing
Any surfaces that may have come into contact with the recalled formula should be washed with hot, soapy water or a dishwashing detergent.
This story has been updated with new information.
Contributing: James Powel, USA TODAY
Julia is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers scientific studies and trending news. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ByHeart formula recall now tied to 31 cases of infant botulism in 15 states
Reporting by Julia Gomez, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
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