County health officials are issuing a second reminder about a nationwide outbreak of infant botulism linked to ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula.
Parents and retailers are urged to dispose of all ByHeart formula products including all lots, can size and single-serve “anywhere” sticks.
The outbreak has caused 37 cases across 17 states including California. No cases have been reported in San Diego County. There have been no reports of ByHeart formula continuing to be sold in San Diego County.
The County’s Department of Environmental Health and Quality has been working with retailers since the recall was announced in mid- November to ensure the product is no longer on the shelves. They continued doing outreach to local businesses this week.
ByHeart, the maker of the formula, issued a voluntary product recall on Nov. 8 on certain lots. It was expanded on Nov. 11 to all ByHeart formula.
If you have any unopened ByHeart formula at home, please discard it and do not use it.
If your infant has already taken some of this formula and you still have the open container, the FDA recommends to photograph or record the information on the package including brand and lot number, seal it, label it “do not use” and store for 30 days in case there is a need for health officials to test the formula.
Parents or caregivers with an infant experiencing symptoms after being fed ByHeart formula, should seek medical attention immediately.
Infant botulism is a rare but serious illness that is a medical emergency. It primarily affects babies younger than 6 months and is caused by a toxin that attacks the body’s nerves and causes difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis and even death.
Signs and symptoms can show up as early as three days after exposure but usually take 10 to 30 days. They include constipation and neurologic symptoms such as poor feeding, weak crying, loss of head control and difficulty swallowing.
To more fully alert the local medical community, County Public Health officials issued a California Health Alert Network for San Diego County on Nov. 12. Along with publishing the alert, public health officials are continuing to work with healthcare providers regionally to be on alert for clinical signs of infant botulism and report any suspected cases to the California Department of Public Health and the County’s epidemiology unit.
People with any health concerns connected to this health alert should contact their healthcare provider immediately.
