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Canadian officials are warning the public not to consume recalled ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula because it may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum tied to infant illnesses in the U.S.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) says the affected products may be unsafe because of the potential presence of the dangerous bacteria.
State officials in Oregon, Minnesota and Arizona say they’re still finding the recalled product on store shelves in the U.S. following a Nov. 11 recall that was updated Wednesday.
More than 30 babies in the U.S. have been sickened, federal health officials in the U.S. said.
Tests by an independent food safety laboratory based in the U.S. found Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium that produces toxins that can lead to potentially life-threatening illness in babies younger than one, the company said on its website on Wednesday.
ByHeart officials said they notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of the findings but did not specify how many samples were tested or how many were positive.
“We are working to investigate the facts, conduct ongoing testing to identify the source and ensure this does not happen to families again,” ByHeart said on its website.
The CFIA’s Nov. 14 warning notifies consumers of two recalled ByHeart baby formula products sold in 680-gram and 238-gram sizes, saying the affected products may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum.
At least 31 babies in 15 states who drank ByHeart formula have been hospitalized and treated for infantile botulism since August, federal health officials said Wednesday. They range in age from about two weeks to about six months, with the most recent case reported on Nov. 13.
No deaths have been reported.
No illnesses reported in Canada
In Canada, there have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of ByHeart products, according to the CFIA alert.
The CFIA advised:
- If you think you became sick from consuming an affected product, contact your health-care provider.
- Check to see if you have affected products.
- Do not consume, serve, use, sell or distribute affected products.
Food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum toxin may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick.
Infant botulism, which can cause paralysis and death, is caused by a type of bacteria that forms spores that germinate in a baby’s gut and produce a toxin.
Canada has seen several recent food recalls over concerns about salmonella and E. coli, from carrots to cucumbers to kale. While that may sound alarming, experts say recalls indicate the safety system is working as it should.
Symptoms can take up to 30 days to develop and include constipation, poor feeding, a weak cry, drooping eyelids or a flat facial expression. Babies can develop weakness in their limbs and their head and may feel “floppy.” They can have trouble swallowing or breathing.
Symptoms in adults can include facial paralysis or loss of facial expression, unreactive or fixed pupils, difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelids, blurred or double vision, difficulty speaking, including slurred speech, and a change in sound of voice, including hoarseness, the CFIA said.
In all cases, botulism does not cause a fever, the Canadian notice said. In severe cases of illness, people may die.
In the U.S., federal and state health officials are concerned that some parents and caregivers may still have ByHeart products in their homes.
They are advising consumers to stop using the product — including formula in cans and any single-serve sticks. They also suggest marking it “DO NOT USE” and keeping it for at least a month in case a baby develops symptoms. In that case, the formula would need to be tested.
