Oregon baby is still battling infant botulism after ByHeart formula
exposure
[January 20, 2026]
By JONEL ALECCIA
A Portland, Oregon, boy is struggling to recover from infant botulism
after drinking contaminated ByHeart baby formula donated through a
program that aims to help poor and homeless families.
Ashaan Carter, now 10 months old, was hospitalized twice and remains on
a feeding tube after contracting the dangerous infection that has
sickened more than 50 babies across the U.S.
His mother, Angel Carter, said she received a can of ByHeart formula
from a case worker with the Oregon Department of Human Services in early
November, days before a nationwide recall of the product.
Carter, who receives state food and housing assistance, said she had
been exclusively breastfeeding her son, but her milk supply was waning.
The case worker told the 27-year-old that the ByHeart formula “was
closest to breast milk” and could help, she said.
“I accepted it thinking, ‘OK, I’m hoping my baby can get on a bottle,'"
Carter said. “It’s been all downhill since then.”
State officials wouldn’t comment on Carter’s case, but they acknowledged
that the agency received ByHeart formula from PDX Diaper Bank. That was
one of nearly two dozen nonprofit groups nationwide who are part of
ByHeart’s “OpenHearted Initiative” that donated formula to “families in
need,” according to the company’s website.
Since June 2022, nearly 24,000 cans of formula have been distributed to
groups that aid homeless and other vulnerable families, the company
said. All the company's products have been recalled since production
began in March 2022 because of potential contamination.
Soon after consuming the ByHeart formula, Ashaan developed severe
constipation and muscle weakness, becoming so limp that he couldn’t move
his head, Carter said.
After a trip to an emergency room, he was sent to Randall Children’s
Hospital in Portland. Doctors there diagnosed him with presumed infant
botulism tied to the ByHeart formula, according to Dr. Sylvia
Peterson-Perry, a family medicine doctor who delivered Ashaan and cares
for him and his mother.
He was treated with BabyBIG, an IV medication that provides antibodies
to the infection to stop the progress of the disease.
Ashaan was hospitalized for nearly two weeks in November and discharged
without a feeding tube. His health rapidly declined, including dramatic
weight loss, and he was hospitalized again in December. He got so sick
that his mother was afraid he would die.
“He was just withering away,” Carter said.
The Oregon caseworker texted Carter after the recall, she said, warning
her to stop using the formula.
[to top of second column]
|
In this photo provided by the family, Ashaan Carter lies on his
mother, Angel Carter, at a children's hospital in Portland, Ore., in
November 2025, during his treatment for infant botulism after
drinking ByHeart baby formula donated to vulnerable families, before
a national recall of all of the products. (David Orphey via AP)
 But it was too late for Ashaan, who
had to have the feeding tube down his throat replaced because his
muscles remain weak, his doctor said. It's not clear how long it
will remain. He is having to relearn how to crawl and to 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,” Peterson-Perry
said.
ByHeart had partnered with Baby2Baby, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit
that includes high-profile celebrities among its supporters. The
news outlet Healthbeat was first to report that recalled formula
went to groups serving at-risk families.
PDX Diaper Bank received about 400 cans of donated ByHeart formula
through Baby2Baby and distributed more than 300 of them before they
were recalled, Rachel Alston, the group’s executive director, said
in an email.
“All of our partners confirmed that they took immediate action to
inform families, and we offered support where we could along the
way,” she said in an email.
Baby2Baby officials did not respond to email requests for comment.
ByHeart officials said the company worked with Baby2Baby and other
groups that received formula to ensure that the products were pulled
and families were notified.
No new cases of infant botulism tied to the outbreak have been
reported since Dec. 17, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has
conducted inspections at ByHeart plants, but has released no
information about the source of the outbreak. Production remains
shut down.
Seattle food safety lawyer Bill Marler said Carter is one of more
than 30 families he represents whose babies were sickened by ByHeart
products. At least 18 lawsuits have been filed against ByHeart and
stores that sold the contaminated formula. This week, Marler asked a
federal panel to consolidate the cases in a U.S. district court in
New York.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
