The American company “By Heart,” specializing in the manufacture of organic infant formula, has announced a comprehensive recall of all its products available in markets nationwide. This announcement comes just days after recalling specific batches due to the worsening of food poisoning cases among infants.
Health officials and federal authorities reported at least 15 cases among infants in 12 states since last August, with this number expected to rise.
Officials confirmed that all infected infants were hospitalized after consuming “By Heart” milk.
No deaths have been recorded.
The “By Heart” administration has expanded the scope of the voluntary recall announced on Saturday to include all products in consumers’ homes and in stores.
This includes “By Heart” infant formula for complete nutrition as well as powdered milk pouches.
According to Dr. Devon Quinn, the company’s chief medical officer, “By Heart” sells about 200,000 cans of infant formula per month online and in stores such as “Target,” “Walmart,” “Albertsons,” and “Whole Foods.”
Quinn advised parents and caregivers who have this milk in their homes to “stop using it and dispose of the product immediately.”
Company officials reported that the decision for a comprehensive recall was made “in close cooperation” with the US Food and Drug Administration, “despite the fact that any unopened “By Heart” product has not tested positive for contamination.”
Health officials in California had previously confirmed that a sample from an opened can of “By Heart” infant formula, which was fed to an infected infant, contained the type of bacteria that causes the toxin associated with the outbreak.
The company confirmed in a statement that “This action underscores “By Heart’s” core mission: protecting children above all else.”
The US Food and Drug Administration is investigating 84 cases of food poisoning among infants discovered since last August.
The agency said in a statement that of these, 36 infants consumed infant formula, and more than a third of them received “By Heart” milk.
(A.P.)
