A ten-month-old boy from Portland, Oregon, is fighting a life-threatening case of infant botulism after consuming contaminated baby formula that was donated to his low-income family through a charitable scheme. The case highlights a national outbreak linked to recalled ByHeart products, which has sickened more than 50 infants across the United States.
A Mother's Trust Leads to a Medical Nightmare
Angel Carter, a 27-year-old mother receiving state support, had been exclusively breastfeeding her son, Ashaan. When her milk supply began to diminish in early November 2025, a caseworker from the Oregon Department of Human Services provided her with a can of ByHeart formula. The worker reportedly told her the product was "closest to breast milk." "I accepted it thinking, 'OK, I’m hoping my baby can get on a bottle,'" Carter said. "It’s been all downhill since then."
Just days after Ashaan started on the formula, he developed severe constipation and profound muscle weakness, becoming so limp he could not hold up his head. He was rushed to Randall Children’s Hospital in Portland, where doctors diagnosed him with infant botulism presumed to be from the ByHeart formula. Dr. Sylvia Peterson-Perry, the family's physician, confirmed the link.
National Recall and Charitable Distribution Under Scrutiny
This tragic incident occurred against the backdrop of a major national recall. ByHeart recalled all products made since March 2022 due to potential contamination. Shockingly, the company had distributed nearly 24,000 cans of its formula since June 2022 to non-profit groups aiding homeless and vulnerable families via its "OpenHearted Initiative."
The can given to the Carter family came via the PDX Diaper Bank, which received about 400 cans from the celebrity-backed charity Baby2Baby. Rachel Alston, the diaper bank's executive director, stated they distributed over 300 cans before the recall and worked to inform families. ByHeart officials said they collaborated with groups to pull products and notify recipients, but for families like the Carters, the warning came too late.
Ongoing Struggle and Legal Repercussions
Ashaan's battle has been harrowing. He was hospitalised for nearly two weeks in November and treated with BabyBIG, a specialised antibody medication. Although initially discharged, his health rapidly deteriorated, leading to dramatic weight loss and a second hospitalisation in December. He now relies on a feeding tube and is relearning how to crawl and talk. "He was just withering away," his mother recounted, fearing he would die.
The fallout is extending to the courts. Seattle food safety lawyer Bill Marler represents more than 30 families, including the Carters, and at least 18 lawsuits have been filed against ByHeart and retailers. Marler has asked a federal panel to consolidate the cases in a U.S. district court in New York.
While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports no new cases linked to the outbreak since 17 December 2025, the source of the contamination remains under investigation by the Food and Drug Administration. Production at ByHeart plants remains shut down. Dr. Peterson-Perry summarised the profound breach of trust: "It’s devastating, especially for our vulnerable families who are trusting this product to nourish their child and trusting our social services to provide safe food for their babies."
