ByHeart infant botulism outbreak ends with 48 babies sickened
[February 27, 2026]
ATLANTA (AP) — A rare outbreak of infant botulism that sickened
dozens of babies who drank recalled ByHeart formula is over, with no new
cases reported since mid-December, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention said Thursday.
In all, 48 babies were sickened since 2023. That's actually down from
the previous case count, because three infants were ultimately diagnosed
with other illnesses not tied to botulism, health officials said.
All of the children who got sick were hospitalized. No deaths have been
reported.
It’s still unclear exactly how, when or where the organic, whole-milk
powdered baby formula became contaminated with the type of bacteria that
can cause serious illness, paralysis and death in children younger than
1, health officials added.
Most of the cases had occurred since August, when officials at
California's Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention program detected
an alarming rise in reports of the illness in babies who consumed
ByHeart formula.
ByHeart, based in New York, initially recalled two lots of formula in
early November, but the company expanded the recall to all products days
later. Federal health officials later said they could not rule out
contamination of products made since the company first launched in March
2022. Stores nationwide pulled the product, which was advertised as
having “next-to-breast milk benefits.”
Investigators with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have yet to
identify the root cause.
In a statement, the agency said it had identified 17 different strains
of the illness-causing bacteria in samples from patients, finished cans
of formula and ingredients. The samples “add to the available evidence
needed to investigate the root cause of this outbreak,” but aren't
definitive, the agency said.
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A container of ByHeart baby formula, in Flagstaff, Ariz., on
Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Cheyanne Mumphrey, File)
 Previously, FDA officials indicated
that powdered whole milk used to make ByHeart infant formula could
be a source of contamination.
Illnesses caused by botulism bacteria in infant formula are rare,
and the size and scope of the ByHeart outbreak is unprecedented,
food safety experts said.
The disease occurs when babies ingest botulism spores that germinate
in the intestine and produce a dangerous toxin that attacks the
nervous system. Death rates were once as high as 90%, but now are
less than 1% with treatment.
The only treatment for the disease is an IV medication, known as
BabyBIG, made from the pooled blood plasma of adults who have been
immunized against botulism. California’s program is the sole source
worldwide.
ByHeart, which accounted for about 1% of the U.S. infant formula
market, previously sold about 200,000 cans of the product per month.
Parents of babies sickened in the outbreak said they chose the
formula, which cost about $42 per can, because of its touted health
benefits.
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