Baby formula recalled in Canada over potential presence of dangerous bacteria

Recalled ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula in the 680g container and 238g package. (Handout)

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public about a baby formula that’s been recalled after being linked to cases of botulism in the U.S.

ByHeart, a manufacturer of organic baby formula, recalled all its products sold in the U.S. on Nov. 11, days after some batches were pulled in an expanding outbreak of infant botulism.

The affected products include the 680-gram container and 238-gram package of ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula. According to the CFIA, the products were distributed online.

“Food contaminated with Clostridium botulinumtoxin may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick," it said, advising the public not to “consume, serve, use, sell, or distribute” the product.

The CFIA is also asking anyone who thinks they became sick from consuming the product to contact their health-care provider.

Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by a toxin that attacks the body’s nerves and can lead to paralysis.

Symptoms include:

• Facial paralysis or loss of facial expression
• Unreactive or fixed pupils
• Difficulty swallowing
• Drooping eyelids
• Blurred or double vision
• Difficulty speaking, including slurred speech, and a change in the sound of the voice, including hoarseness

In children, symptoms of foodborne botulism include:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Slurred speech
• Generalized weakness
• Paralysis

According to the CFIA, fever is not a symptom of botulism, but it can be fatal in severe cases of illness.

To date, there have been no reported illnesses related to the consumption of the product in Canada, according to the CFIA alert.

“The (CFIA) is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of these or other products,” the agency said.

In the U.S., at least 15 babies in 12 states have been sickened in the outbreak since August, with more cases pending, according to state and federal health officials. All of the babies were hospitalized after consuming ByHeart formula, officials said.

There have been no reports of deaths in the U.S.

With files from the Associated Press