The Oregon Health Authority reports State agencies continue to track botulism cases linked to a nationally recalled infant formula—including two cases of infection in Oregon—but health officials say there are steps families can take now to reduce their babies’ exposure to the infection.
Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Agriculture are collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and public health and food safety officials from other states to investigate the multi-state outbreak connected with consumption of powdered infant formula produced by ByHeart.
Howard Chiou, M.D., Ph.D., OHA medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations, says it is helpful that ByHeart, which manufactures the formula implicated in the infant botulism outbreak, has voluntarily recalled its products. That ensures the ByHeart formula remains off store shelves until federal, state and local health agencies complete their investigations.
It’s the ByHeart products that may still be on families’ shelves at home that are the biggest concern for Chiou and his public health colleagues in Oregon.
“Many parents and caregivers may still have ByHeart infant formula products in their pantries, and they may not be aware of the national recall and botulism outbreak, or perhaps they don’t think the ByHeart products they do have are affected,” Chiou says. “Our message is clear: Do not use ByHeart infant formula.”
Infant botulism is a rare illness that happens when a baby swallows Clostridium botulinum spores that grow in the gut and make toxin. The bacteria are commonly found in the environment, including soil, dust and honey. Infant botulism often starts with constipation and progresses to difficulty feeding, a weak and altered cry, and loss of muscle tone. Severe cases require hospitalization for specialized treatment.
Nationally, there have been 23 cases of infant botulism from 13 states identified in connection with the outbreak, including two infants from Oregon; ill infants have been hospitalized and there have been no deaths. ByHeart has issued a recall of all its infant formula and ODA is conducting recall effectiveness checks to ensure that all recalled product has been removed from stores statewide.
OHA and ODA urge people to stop using any ByHeart Whole Nutrition infant formula, including cans and single-serve sticks:
- Label any leftover formula that your infant was fed as “DO NOT USE” and keep the container stored in a safe spot for at least a month in case your infant develops symptoms and the product needs to be tested. If no symptoms appear after a month, throw the leftover formula away.
- Wash items and surfaces that may have touched the formula using hot, soapy water or a dishwasher. Special soaps or detergents are not needed.
If your baby has consumed recalled formula, it is important to recognize that most infants who have consumed the formula have not become sick. Watch infants for progressive symptoms, as they may take up to a month to appear. Testing for botulism is not available for infants without symptoms.
Seek immediate medical care if your infant develops any of these symptoms:
- Poor feeding, with loss of interest in feeding for at least six hours or weaker suck
- Difficulty swallowing
- Loss of head control
- Decreased facial expression
“I know this is a scary message for parents to hear, that the formula they have given their child might have made them sick,” said Dean Sidelinger, M.D., M.S.Ed., state health officer and state epidemiologist at OHA. “We want to provide you the best information on who may be at risk, what symptoms to look for that your child may be getting sick, and steps you can take to help keep your baby healthy. Right now, we know of two babies who have gotten sick in Oregon, even though many more drank the formula we are talking about.”