November 21,2025
RED FM News Desk
Canadian authorities are warning the public not to use recalled ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula due to possible contamination with Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium linked to infant illnesses in the U.S.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said the affected products may be unsafe because of the potential presence of this dangerous bacteria.
In the U.S., state officials in Oregon, Minnesota, and Arizona report that recalled products are still appearing on store shelves following a Nov. 11 recall, which was updated Wednesday. More than 30 infants in the U.S. have fallen ill, according to federal health officials.
Independent U.S. laboratory tests detected Clostridium botulinum, which produces toxins that can cause potentially life-threatening illness in babies under one year old. ByHeart informed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of the findings, though the company did not specify how many samples were tested or confirmed positive. The company said it is investigating the source and conducting ongoing testing to prevent future incidents.
The CFIA alert, issued Nov. 14, identifies two recalled ByHeart formula products sold in 680-gram and 238-gram sizes as potentially contaminated.
Federal health authorities report that at least 31 babies across 15 U.S. states, ranging from two weeks to six months old, have been hospitalized for infant botulism after consuming ByHeart formula, with the most recent case on Nov. 13. No deaths have been reported.
In Canada, there have been no reported illnesses linked to ByHeart products.
The CFIA advises consumers to:
- Contact a health-care provider if they suspect illness from the product.
- Check for affected products in their possession.
- Do not consume, serve, use, sell, or distribute recalled formula.
Authorities note that food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum may appear normal and not smell spoiled, but can still cause illness.
Infant botulism, a potentially life-threatening condition that can cause paralysis and death, is caused by bacteria that form spores which germinate in a baby’s gut and produce a toxin.
Symptoms may take up to 30 days to appear and can include constipation, poor feeding, weak crying, drooping eyelids, or a flat facial expression. Babies may also show limb weakness, a “floppy” head, and difficulty swallowing or breathing.
In adults, botulism symptoms can include facial paralysis, loss of facial expression, fixed or unreactive pupils, trouble swallowing, drooping eyelids, blurred or double vision, slurred speech, and changes in voice, including hoarseness, according to the CFIA.
Botulism does not cause fever. In severe cases, the illness can be fatal.
U.S. federal and state health officials warn that some parents and caregivers may still have ByHeart products at home. They advise stopping use of all recalled formula, including cans and single-serve sticks, marking the products “DO NOT USE,” and keeping them for at least a month in case a baby develops symptoms. In such cases, the formula should be tested for contamination.
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