Infant Botulism Outbreak: The Story of Ashaan Carter and ByHeart Formula Contamination
A young boy in Portland, Oregon, is facing a difficult recovery from infant botulism after consuming contaminated ByHeart baby formula provided through a program that assists low-income and homeless families. Ashaan Carter, a 10-month-old, was hospitalized twice and is currently reliant on a feeding tube due to the infection that has affected over 50 infants in the United States. His mother, Angel Carter, received a can of ByHeart formula from a state worker just before a nationwide recall of the product. Despite exclusively breastfeeding her son, Angel accepted the formula, hoping it would help when her milk supply decreased.
State officials did not comment on Angel's case but acknowledged that the Oregon Department of Human Services received ByHeart formula from the PDX Diaper Bank, a participant in ByHeart's "OpenHearted Initiative" that donates formula to families in need. Since June 2022, nearly 24,000 cans of formula have been distributed to organizations supporting vulnerable families, but all ByHeart products have been recalled due to potential contamination. After consuming the formula, Ashaan experienced severe constipation and muscle weakness, leading to a diagnosis of presumed infant botulism at Randall Children’s Hospital in Portland.
Ashaan's health deteriorated rapidly, resulting in significant weight loss and a second hospitalization in December. He required a feeding tube due to muscle weakness and is currently undergoing rehabilitation to regain his strength and abilities. The recall of the formula came too late for Ashaan, who continues to face challenges in his recovery. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported no new cases of infant botulism linked to the outbreak since December 17, and the FDA has conducted inspections at ByHeart facilities without disclosing the source of the contamination.
Seattle food safety lawyer Bill Marler represents over 30 families affected by ByHeart products, with 18 lawsuits filed against the company and retailers selling the tainted formula. Marler has requested the consolidation of these cases in a U.S. district court in New York to seek justice for the impacted families. The aftermath of the contaminated formula has raised concerns about the safety of products provided to vulnerable families and the need for stricter oversight in the distribution of essential items like infant formula.