This Tuesday, a recall notice was issued for all ByHeart organic milk formula brand products in the United States due to cases of botulism in infants.
Over the weekend, a localized recall had already been carried out in some states, which was now issued for the entire country. Anyone who has the product in their home “should immediately discontinue use and dispose of the product,” the company said.
So far, 15 babies between the ages of 2 weeks and 5 months have fallen ill in a dozen states, according to state and local health authorities, with no deaths reported so far.
The outbreak began in August, with the first case reported in California after a baby was hospitalized and found to have the toxic botulism bacteria.
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The recall of the ByHeart product was ordered because the bacteria was found in one of the containers used by that baby, although so far no other container has been confirmed to contain the pathogen.
So far the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating 84 possible cases of botulism in infants, of which 15 have been linked to babies who consumed the brand’s milk formula.
What are the causes and symptoms of botulism in babies?
There are typically fewer than 200 cases of infant botulism in the United States each year.
The disease is caused by a bacteria that generates a toxin in the large intestine. The bacteria is spread through spores and the disease can cause serious symptoms such as paralysis.
Babies are especially vulnerable because they have not yet developed a robust stomach microbiota to help prevent the bacteria’s spores from spreading.
They can then get sick if they are exposed, which can happen from spores in the air, water, soil, or even in honey. Until now, no cases related to formula milk had been reported in the United States, according to Steven Abrams, a doctor specializing in nutrition at the University of Texas.
Sometimes it takes weeks before there are symptoms, which include constipation, drooping eyelids, lack of head control, and problems passing saliva.
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How can botulism in infants be treated?
The only treatment available at the moment is an intravenous medication called BabyBIG, made from the plasma of adults who are already immune to the bacteria.
The product was developed by a specialized program based in California, where all the medicine of this type available worldwide is produced. Each vial costs approximately $69,300.
Because botulism can affect infants’ ability to breathe, they are sometimes required to wear respirators.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advised that all sick infants so far in the current outbreak have already received doses of BabyBIG.
Inspections of dairy formulas
In addition to this case, in recent years there was another outbreak of a different disease that the FDA linked to the Abbott Nutrition company’s milk formula. On that occasion, two babies died due to the germ cronobacter sakazakii.
Federal health officials in the United States under Donald Trump’s administration have promised to make adjustments to various components of foods produced in the United States, such as the use of certain colorings that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claims are “poisonous components” without providing evidence.
Under Kennedy Jr., health agencies have also been ordered to review the ingredients of baby milk formula in an initiative he has dubbed Operation Swift Stork.
