Baby formula recalled for bacteria contamination that causes sepsis and meningitis

(AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

A baby formula launched in March to fill in for the shortage in America has issued a recall. A dangerous bacteria was found in its products. It is the same bacteria found in an Abbott plant this year.

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The irony is obvious. The baby formula brand, ByHeart, that was created to help ease the shortage now finds itself destroying two days’ worth of product. A third-party testing company found formula contaminated with Cronobacter sakazakil.

Based in Reading, Pennsylvania, ByHeart finds itself recalling five batches of its formula. Fortunately, none of the affected products have been distributed to the public. The bacteria lives in very dry places. It can contaminate dry foods like formula, powdered milk, and herbal teas. Complications are deadly, like sepsis and meningitis, if the bacteria is ingested.

‘The safety of your family is our number one priority – and we are here for you and with you,’ the firm wrote in a statement.

ByHeart first issued a voluntary recall of five batches of the formula yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports. It is unclear how many cans were affected.

ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula, Milk Based Powder with Iron for 0-12 Months in 24oz containers was found to be contaminated during third-party testing. The company says it is the fault of something that must have happened during the canning process, which is farmed out to a third party. The company statement notes that the recall is voluntary and denies any manufacturing responsibility. “We are confident in our safety testing and quality program.”

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The company decided to isolate and destroy all baby formula produced that day and the day after – a two day production run – when the contamination was found. There is some good news. None of the products had been distributed to the public and no illness has been connected to the contaminated formula.

Needless to say, FDA officials are showing great caution because this bacteria was linked to two infant deaths earlier this year.

The founders of the company marveled at the demand for their product during an interview in August. With panicked parents constantly on the lookout for baby formula due to an unimaginable shortage, it’s easy to understand that the ByHeart brand was an instant success.

Founders and siblings Ron Belldegrun and Mia Funt first rolled out their products just after the nationwide shortage began.

In an August interview, Mr Belldegrun said the company saw ‘unprecedented demand’ when it first launched.

‘We were pacing at levels 15 times our most aggressive yearly projections,’ he said.

It is unclear how much the contamination affected the firm’s daily manufacturing capacity – if at all.

Bacteria contamination usually happens when a person places a scooper or other utensil down on an un-sanitized surface. Then the utensil is used with the formula and the bacteria spreads and thrives. Poor cleaning practices and improper employee training were blamed for the contamination in the Abbott plant in Michigan.

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The Abbott plant has since re-opened but the baby formula shortage continues. A new report by Reckitt Benckiser, the maker of Enfamil, shows formula shortages are expected until the spring of 2023, at the earliest. Almost a year has passed since the beginning of the shortage and parents are still struggling in many places to keep their babies’ needs met.

As I said, this is an unimaginable crisis. Biden’s America is one with third world problems. It’s inexcusable that one year out, parents are still not able to get what they need during a trip to the grocery store. Operation Fly Formula shipments ended in September. That mission brought in formula from other countries. So why did it end if the shortage is still around? Team Biden appears inept to solve any crisis. Why isn’t there a baby formula czar?

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Ed Morrissey 12:40 PM | November 21, 2024
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