Oregon Infant Continues Fight Against Botulism Following ByHeart Formula Exposure
A Portland, Oregon, boy is facing a challenging recovery from infant botulism after consuming contaminated ByHeart baby formula. This formula was donated through a program designed to assist low-income and homeless families.
Ashaan Carter, now 10 months old, has been hospitalized twice and is currently reliant on a feeding tube due to the severe infection that has affected over 50 infants across the United States.
His mother, Angel Carter, shared that she received a can of ByHeart formula from a case worker with the Oregon Department of Human Services in early November, just days before a nationwide recall of the product.
Related: Nestle Recalls Infant Formula Batches in 25 Countries Over Toxin Risk
Carter, who relies on state food and housing assistance, had been exclusively breastfeeding Ashaan. However, as her milk supply began to dwindle, the case worker recommended the ByHeart formula, stating it was “closest to breast milk.”
“I accepted it thinking, ‘OK, I’m hoping my baby can get on a bottle,’” Carter recounted. “It’s been all downhill since then.”
While state officials have refrained from commenting on Carter’s specific case, they confirmed that the agency received ByHeart formula from PDX Diaper Bank. This organization is one of nearly two dozen nonprofits involved in ByHeart’s “OpenHearted Initiative,” which aims to provide formula to families in need, according to the company’s website.
Since June 2022, nearly 24,000 cans of formula have been distributed to organizations assisting homeless and vulnerable families. All of ByHeart’s products have been recalled since production began in March 2022 due to potential contamination concerns.
Related: Target, Walmart, Whole Foods Targeted in Botulism Suits
Shortly after consuming the ByHeart formula, Ashaan experienced severe constipation and muscle weakness, becoming so limp that he could not move his head, according to Carter.
After an emergency room visit, he was transferred to Randall Children’s Hospital in Portland, where doctors diagnosed him with presumed infant botulism linked to the ByHeart formula. Dr. Sylvia Peterson-Perry, a family medicine doctor who delivered Ashaan, has been closely monitoring his condition.
Ashaan received treatment with BabyBIG, an intravenous medication that provides antibodies to combat the infection and halt its progression.
He spent nearly two weeks hospitalized in November and was discharged without a feeding tube. However, his health deteriorated rapidly, leading to dramatic weight loss and a second hospitalization in December. His mother feared for his life during this time.
“He was just withering away,” Carter expressed.
After the recall, the Oregon caseworker reached out to Carter, advising her to stop using the formula. Unfortunately, it was too late for Ashaan, who required a replacement feeding tube due to ongoing muscle weakness. His doctor has indicated that it is uncertain how long he will need it. He is currently relearning how to crawl and talk.
“It’s devastating, especially for our vulnerable families who are trusting this product to nourish their child and trusting our social services to provide safe food for their babies,” Dr. Peterson-Perry stated.
ByHeart had partnered with Baby2Baby, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit supported by various high-profile celebrities. Healthbeat was the first to report that the recalled formula was distributed to organizations serving at-risk families.
PDX Diaper Bank received approximately 400 cans of donated ByHeart formula through Baby2Baby and distributed over 300 of them before the recall, according to Rachel Alston, the group’s executive director.
“All of our partners confirmed that they took immediate action to inform families, and we offered support where we could along the way,” she noted in an email.
While Baby2Baby officials did not respond to requests for comment, ByHeart stated that they collaborated with Baby2Baby and other organizations to ensure that the products were removed and families were notified.
As of December 17, no new cases of infant botulism linked to this outbreak have been reported, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has conducted inspections at ByHeart facilities but has not released information regarding the source of the outbreak. Production remains halted.
Seattle food safety attorney Bill Marler represents Carter among over 30 families whose infants were affected by ByHeart products. At least 18 lawsuits have been filed against ByHeart and retailers that sold the contaminated formula. Recently, Marler requested a federal panel to consolidate these cases in a U.S. district court in New York.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Topics
Oregon
A Portland, Oregon, boy is facing a challenging recovery from infant botulism after consuming contaminated ByHeart baby formula. This formula was donated through a program designed to assist low-income and homeless families.
Ashaan Carter, now 10 months old, has been hospitalized twice and is currently reliant on a feeding tube due to the severe infection that has affected over 50 infants across the United States.
His mother, Angel Carter, shared that she received a can of ByHeart formula from a case worker with the Oregon Department of Human Services in early November, just days before a nationwide recall of the product.
Related: Nestle Recalls Infant Formula Batches in 25 Countries Over Toxin Risk
Carter, who relies on state food and housing assistance, had been exclusively breastfeeding Ashaan. However, as her milk supply began to dwindle, the case worker recommended the ByHeart formula, stating it was “closest to breast milk.”
“I accepted it thinking, ‘OK, I’m hoping my baby can get on a bottle,’” Carter recounted. “It’s been all downhill since then.”
While state officials have refrained from commenting on Carter’s specific case, they confirmed that the agency received ByHeart formula from PDX Diaper Bank. This organization is one of nearly two dozen nonprofits involved in ByHeart’s “OpenHearted Initiative,” which aims to provide formula to families in need, according to the company’s website.
Since June 2022, nearly 24,000 cans of formula have been distributed to organizations assisting homeless and vulnerable families. All of ByHeart’s products have been recalled since production began in March 2022 due to potential contamination concerns.
Related: Target, Walmart, Whole Foods Targeted in Botulism Suits
Shortly after consuming the ByHeart formula, Ashaan experienced severe constipation and muscle weakness, becoming so limp that he could not move his head, according to Carter.
After an emergency room visit, he was transferred to Randall Children’s Hospital in Portland, where doctors diagnosed him with presumed infant botulism linked to the ByHeart formula. Dr. Sylvia Peterson-Perry, a family medicine doctor who delivered Ashaan, has been closely monitoring his condition.
Ashaan received treatment with BabyBIG, an intravenous medication that provides antibodies to combat the infection and halt its progression.
He spent nearly two weeks hospitalized in November and was discharged without a feeding tube. However, his health deteriorated rapidly, leading to dramatic weight loss and a second hospitalization in December. His mother feared for his life during this time.
“He was just withering away,” Carter expressed.
After the recall, the Oregon caseworker reached out to Carter, advising her to stop using the formula. Unfortunately, it was too late for Ashaan, who required a replacement feeding tube due to ongoing muscle weakness. His doctor has indicated that it is uncertain how long he will need it. He is currently relearning how to crawl and talk.
“It’s devastating, especially for our vulnerable families who are trusting this product to nourish their child and trusting our social services to provide safe food for their babies,” Dr. Peterson-Perry stated.
ByHeart had partnered with Baby2Baby, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit supported by various high-profile celebrities. Healthbeat was the first to report that the recalled formula was distributed to organizations serving at-risk families.
PDX Diaper Bank received approximately 400 cans of donated ByHeart formula through Baby2Baby and distributed over 300 of them before the recall, according to Rachel Alston, the group’s executive director.
“All of our partners confirmed that they took immediate action to inform families, and we offered support where we could along the way,” she noted in an email.
While Baby2Baby officials did not respond to requests for comment, ByHeart stated that they collaborated with Baby2Baby and other organizations to ensure that the products were removed and families were notified.
As of December 17, no new cases of infant botulism linked to this outbreak have been reported, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has conducted inspections at ByHeart facilities but has not released information regarding the source of the outbreak. Production remains halted.
Seattle food safety attorney Bill Marler represents Carter among over 30 families whose infants were affected by ByHeart products. At least 18 lawsuits have been filed against ByHeart and retailers that sold the contaminated formula. Recently, Marler requested a federal panel to consolidate these cases in a U.S. district court in New York.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Topics
Oregon
