How do you know your infant has cereulide poisoning? This toxin is produced by some strains of the bacteria Bacillus cereus. This pathogen is found in soil and dust, and can contaminate foods like pasta, rice, and dairy products. When the bacteria grow, they produce the toxin. Cereulide is very heat stable, meaning that it's almost impossible to deactivate or destroy it by cooking, using boiling water, or preparing infant formula. Even properly prepared infant formula can still have the toxin and make babies sick. And the toxin is not destroyed by freezing. Symptoms of cereulide poisoning can include vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain and cramps. Infants may express their distress by persistent crying and refusal to eat. These symptoms usually appear within 30 minutes to a … [Read more...]
Possible ByHeart Infant Formula Botulism Outbreak Sickens 13
A possible ByHeart infant formula botulism outbreak has sickened 13 babies, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All 13 infants have been hospitalized. Two lots of the company's infant formula have been recalled. The formula was sold online and nationwide at the retail level. The case count of babies with suspected or confirmed infant botulism by state is: Arizona (1), California (2), Illinois (2), Minnesota (1), New Jersey (1), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (1), Rhode Island (1), Texas (2), and Washington (1). Illness onset dates range from mid-August to November 2025. All 13 infants were treated with BabyBIG®. The infants range in age from 15 to 157 days old. Public health officials have been interviewing caregivers about the foods these babies were fed … [Read more...]
Consumer Reports Tests Baby Formula For Lead and Arsenic
Consumer Reports has tested baby formula for the heavy metals lead and arsenic and found some with concerning levels. The tested 41 types of powdered formula, looking at established formulas like Enamel and Similac, popular store brands, imported brands, and newer foods like Bobbie. About half of the samples had potentially harmful of at least one contaminant. But the other half had low or no levels of potentially problematic contamination, so parents have good options to choose from. The FDA announced a new initiative to strengthen its oversight of the formula industry one day after Consumer Reports shared the results with that agency. Brian Ronholm, head of food policy for CR said in a statement, "It’s very encouraging to see the FDA issue this announcement immediately after … [Read more...]
Healthwest Goat Milk Recipe Kit Recalled; Don’t Feed to Infants
Healthwest Goat Milk Recipe Kit is being recalled because the FDA says it does not meet all FDA requirements for infant formula, doesn't provide sufficient nutrition as an infant formula, and the storage instructions may not be sufficient. The recalling firm is Healthwest Minerals Inc. doing business as Mount Capra Products of Chehalis, Washington. The formula does not have additional iron supplementation, which can mean infants can develop iron deficiency anemia and feeding intolerance. One infant has developed anemia after being fed this product. FDA found that while the caregivers of that child were using the Goat Milk Formula Recipe Kit and recipe, the caregivers substituted some ingredients with a different brand of multivitamin, which created a product deficient in vitamin … [Read more...]
Sammy’s Milk Warns Parents About Age Range For Formula
Sammy's Milk is warning parents about the age range for their Goat Milk Toddler Formula. It should not be used as an infant formula. The company was asked by the FDA to provide a warning against the use of that formula as an infant formula becasue the FDA is concerned that the product may not meet all FDA requirements for infant formula. It may not provide sufficient nutrition for infants. The FDA had a meeting with company officials this week when the government found that representation on the Sammy's Milk website and social media platforms could be interpreted to indicate that the formula is safe for infants. Sammy's Milk wants to emphasize that its product is specifically formulated for children between the ages of 12 and 36 months. The packaging indicates this. The product … [Read more...]
LittleOak Infant Formula Products Not Approved For Sale in Canada
LittleOak Infant Formula products are not approved for sale in Canada, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). These products are made with natural goat milk. Last week, the FDA warned American parents against using these products because the company did not submit premarket notification to the government about the products safety and nutritional adequacy. The company has not submitted the required pre-market submission to Canadian officials either, so these products have not been evaluated to make sure they meet Canadian food safety and nutritional standards and regulations. The infant formula products also do not meet Canadian labelling and composition requirements. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation. That may trigger the recall of more … [Read more...]
FDA Warns About LittleOak Natural Goat Milk Infant Formula
The FDA is warning parents about LittleOak Natural Goat Milk Infant Formula because the company did not submit the required premarket notification to the FDA to demonstrate the safety and nutritional adequacy of the product. The FDA must review key information about the product ingredients, nutritional information, and manufacturing information before infant formula can be sold in the United States. In addition, preparation instructions on the product do not align with measurements that are used on other approved infant formula bottles. If powdered infant formula is not diluted correctly, the infant can suffer physical problems. Diluting it too much may slow or delay growth, and not diluting it enough can cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and kidney issues. The FDA did not … [Read more...]
Parent’s Choice and Tippy Toes Sensitivity Infant Formulas Recalled
Parent's Choice Sensitivity Premium Infant Formula and Tippy Toes Sensitivity Premium Infant Formula are being recalled because these items were inadvertently released after being rejected. No specific reason for the rejection was given. The recall initiation date was June 16, 2023, but the classification date was not until September 6, 2023. Because this recall notice was posted on the FDA's Enforcement Report page instead of the regular recall page, there is no mention of whether or not any illnesses have been reported to the company to date in connection with the consumption of these infant formulas. The recalling firm is PBM Nutritionals, LLC of Georgia, Vermont. The product was shipped to these states: Illinois, Alabama, Iowa, Georgia, Mississippi, Indiana, Arkansas, … [Read more...]
Three Infant Food Manufacturers Get Warning Letters From FDA
Three infant food manufacturers received warning letters from the FDA after inspections were conducted at their facilities. The letters were for violations of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and FDA infant formula regulations. The letters were issued to ByHeart Inc., Mead Johnson Nutrition (Beckett), and Perrigo Wisconsin LLC. The letters "reflect findings from FDA inspections of these facilities over the last several months." At each inspection, the FDA issued inspectional observations and exercised oversight of each firm as they initiated recalls, in December 2022, February 2023, and March 2023. The recalls were for infant formulas potentially contaminated with Cronobacter sakazakii, a pathogen that can cause serious illness and death in vulnerable infants. The letters … [Read more...]
Cronobacter Added to Notifiable Pathogens Reported to CDC
The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) is recommending that cronobacter be added to the list of notifiable pathogens reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is notable, since this pathogen, which can be deadly to infants, has not been tracked and is not reportable except in two states: Minnesota and Michigan. Because it is not tracked, we do not know how many infants are sickened by this pathogen. It's unfortunate that states will not be required to notify the CDC about these infections, but will only be asked to, although states usually do comply with this type of request. The position statement establishes standardized criteria for case definition and case counting that will be used for public health surveillance purposes. This … [Read more...]
