The Wellesley Health Department is alerting parents and caregivers of infants about an important infant formula recall.
Due to an outbreak of infant Botulism, ALL ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula products have been recalled. This includes all unexpired lots of formula cans and single-serve “anywhere” sticks. Please stop using these products immediately.
ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula is available for sale online and at major retailers nationwide including Amazon, Target, Whole Foods, Walmart, and more.
Recommendations
- Parents and caregivers should stop using any ByHeart infant formula products immediately.
- If your child consumed ByHeart formula and is experiencing symptoms (see below) seek immediate medical attention.
- If your child consumed ByHeart formula and is not currently showing symptoms, continue monitoring them and seek medical attention if symptoms develop.
- If you have any containers of ByHeart formula in your home, you should:
- take a photo or record the information on the bottom of the package.
- keep the container in a safe spot and be sure to label that product as DO NOT USE.
- If your child develops symptoms, the State health department may want to collect your formula container for testing. If your child does not develop symptoms after 30 days, throw containers out.
About Botulism
Botulism is a toxic bacteria that can be fatal. If your child has consumed ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula and is experiencing signs such as poor feeding, loss of head control, difficulty swallowing, or decreased facial expression, seek immediate medical attention.
Symptoms of infant botulism. Most infants with infant botulism will initially develop constipation, poor feeding, loss of head control, and difficulty swallowing, which can progress to difficulty breathing and respiratory arrest.
Please note: Symptoms of infant botulism, which is diagnosed clinically, can take as long as SEVERAL WEEKS to develop following formula ingestion.
Learn more about the infant botulism outbreak and formula recall on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website.
Health Department officials are here to help. For questions or to speak to Health Department Public Health Nurse Ann Marie McCauley, please call 781-489-4356, or email amccauley@wellesleyma.gov