Portland Infant Hospitalized Following Contaminated Formula Recall

A ten-month-old infant in Portland is facing serious health challenges after consuming contaminated baby formula from the company ByHeart. The formula was part of a donation program aimed at assisting low-income and homeless families. Ashaan Carter has been hospitalized twice and is currently reliant on a feeding tube due to complications from infant botulism, a rare but potentially life-threatening illness.

In early November, Ashaan’s mother, Angel Carter, received a can of ByHeart formula from a case worker with the Oregon Department of Human Services. This occurred just days before a nationwide recall of the product, which has since impacted over 50 infants across the United States. Carter, who relies on state food and housing assistance, was struggling to maintain her breast milk supply. The case worker recommended the ByHeart formula, stating it was “closest to breast milk.”

“I accepted it thinking, ‘OK, I’m hoping my baby can get on a bottle,’” said Carter. Unfortunately, the situation deteriorated rapidly after Ashaan consumed the formula, with symptoms including severe constipation and muscle weakness. Carter noted that her son became so limp he could not move his head.

Following an emergency room visit, Ashaan was admitted to Randall Children’s Hospital in Portland, where he was diagnosed with presumed infant botulism linked to the ByHeart formula. According to Dr. Sylvia Peterson-Perry, a family medicine doctor who has been involved in Ashaan’s care, he was treated with BabyBIG, an intravenous medication that provides antibodies to combat the infection. Ashaan spent nearly two weeks in the hospital before being discharged without a feeding tube.

Despite initial improvement, Ashaan’s condition worsened, leading to a second hospitalization in December. Carter described her distress, stating, “He was just withering away.” Following the recall announcement, the case worker informed Carter to stop using the formula, but by that time, it was too late for Ashaan, who required a replacement feeding tube due to ongoing muscle weakness.

Dr. Peterson-Perry expressed concern about the implications of this incident, especially for vulnerable families who trust social services to provide safe nourishment for their children. “It’s devastating,” she said.

ByHeart had partnered with Baby2Baby, a nonprofit based in Los Angeles that supports families in need. According to reports, the PDX Diaper Bank received approximately 400 cans of the donated ByHeart formula and distributed over 300 of them before the recall. Rachel Alston, the executive director of PDX Diaper Bank, confirmed that all partners acted quickly to inform families and provide support.

ByHeart officials stated they are collaborating with organizations like Baby2Baby to ensure that all products are removed from circulation and families are notified. Since the recall, no new cases of infant botulism linked to the outbreak have been reported, as confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on December 17, 2023. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has conducted inspections at ByHeart’s manufacturing facilities, although details regarding the source of the contamination remain undisclosed, and production is currently halted.

Food safety attorney Bill Marler, representing over 30 families affected by ByHeart products, has filed at least 18 lawsuits against the company and retailers that sold the contaminated formula. This week, he requested that a federal panel consolidate the cases in a U.S. district court in New York.

The situation continues to raise significant questions about food safety and the responsibilities of companies and nonprofits in safeguarding the health of vulnerable populations. As this story unfolds, the health and recovery of Ashaan Carter remains a poignant reminder of the potential dangers associated with food products intended for infants.