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U.S. Expands ByHeart Botulism Outbreak to 51 Cases as FDA Warns All Formula May Be Tainted

Health agencies broadened the review after positive lab findings, with inspections ongoing to determine the source.

Overview

  • CDC widened its case definition to include any infant exposed to ByHeart formula since its 2022 launch, adding 10 earlier cases to reach 51 across 19 states.
  • FDA said it cannot rule out contamination across all ByHeart products while the most recent reported illness occurred on Dec. 1.
  • Company and independent testing detected Clostridium botulinum in 5 of 36 samples from three lots of powdered formula.
  • All identified infants were hospitalized with suspected or confirmed botulism, no deaths have been reported, and ages ranged from 16 to 264 days.
  • ByHeart recalled all cans and single‑serve packs on Nov. 11; officials advise caregivers to stop use, record lot details, retain leftover product for possible testing, and seek care if symptoms appear.