Minnesota Among States With Infant Botulism Cases Tied To Formula

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is reporting Minnesota is one of 12 states around the country where at least one case of infant botulism has been reported, linked to infant formula.

In response to the outbreak of infant botulism tied to a specific brand of formula, the FDA initiated a recall of the impacted product and is alerting parents of what to look for.

Here's what you need to know:

What infant formula is linked to the infant botulism cases? Where was it sold?

The FDA says all ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula has been recalled in response to this outbreak.

The product is sold nationwide at major retailers as well as online.

As of November 11, the FDA is urging the expansion of the recall to include all ByHeart infant formula products, which include cans and single-serve sticks of the product. Previously, it had included the following lot numbers and expiration dates:

Lot: 206VABP/251261P2 (“Use by 01 Dec 2026”)
Lot: 206VABP/251131P2 (“Use by 01 Dec 2026”)

Where have infant botulism cases been reported related to this formula?

Minnesota is one of 12 states where at least one case has been reported. The Minnesota Department of Health says one case has been reported in the state. The MDH advises parents with this product to throw it away or return it.

Most of the 15 reported cases around the country are along the East and West Coasts, with cases also reported in Illinois, Kentucky, and Arizona.

While all 15 cases have included hospitalization of the impacted infant, there have thankfully not been any reported deaths to date. You can see all of the reported cases in a map below from the FDA.

FDA

The FDA says ByHeart's infant formula makes up less than 1% of all infant formula sales in the country, which means that the outbreak and related recall should not create major shortage concerns.

What is infant botulism? What are the symptoms?

The Minnesota Department of Health describes botulism as "A rare but serious illness caused by a toxin that attacks the body's nerves. Botulism causes difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and even death."

Symptoms of infant botulism often start with constipation and/or difficulty feeding and can also include a weak and altered cry, lack of head control, decreased facial expression, and difficulty swallowing.

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This potentially fatal disease can progress to difficulty breathing and respiratory arrest. Development of symptoms can sometimes take up to several weeks.

If your child starts experiencing some of these symptoms and has consumed this brand of formula, the FDA says you should seek immediate medical attention.