Federal and state health officials are investigating 13 cases of infant botulism in 10 U.S. states linked to an infant formula that is now being recalled, officials said Saturday.
ByHeart Inc. has agreed to begin recalling two lots of its Whole Nutrition infant formula, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a statement.
The 13 babies were hospitalized after consuming formula from two lots: 206VABP/251261P2 and 206VABP/251131P2.
The cases were recorded in Arizona, California, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Washington.
No deaths were reported. The FDA said it was investigating how the contamination occurred and whether it affected other products.
The product, sold online and through retail chains, accounted for about 1% of national formula sales, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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People who purchased the recalled formula should record the lot number if possible before throwing it away or returning it to the place where it was purchased, the CDC said in a statement.
They should use a dish soap or hot, soapy water to clean items and surfaces that touched the formula. And they should seek medical attention immediately if a baby has consumed the recalled formula and then has problems feeding, loss of head control, difficulty swallowing, or decreased facial expression.
Infant botulism is caused by bacteria that produce toxins in the large intestine.
Symptoms can take weeks to develop, so parents should remain vigilant, the CDC said.
A spokesperson for ByHeart did not immediately respond to an email Saturday seeking comment.
