A baby boy from Portland, Oregon, continues to fight a serious case of infant botulism after being fed contaminated ByHeart infant formula, which was donated to his family through a support programme for vulnerable households.
A Mother's Trust Leads to a Medical Nightmare
Ten-month-old Ashaan Carter has been hospitalised twice and remains dependent on a feeding tube after contracting the life-threatening infection. His mother, Angel Carter, 27, who receives state food and housing assistance, was given a can of ByHeart formula by an Oregon Department of Human Services caseworker in early November.
Carter, who had been exclusively breastfeeding, said her milk supply was decreasing. The caseworker reportedly told her the formula "was closest to breast milk" and could help. "I accepted it thinking, 'OK, I’m hoping my baby can get on a bottle,'" Carter stated. "It’s been all downhill since then." The donation came just days before a nationwide recall of all ByHeart products.
Systemic Failures in Donation Programme
State officials acknowledged the agency received the formula from the PDX Diaper Bank. This group was part of ByHeart's "OpenHearted Initiative," a scheme that donated nearly 24,000 cans nationwide to non-profits aiding homeless and vulnerable families since June 2022. All formula produced from March 2022 onwards has been recalled for potential contamination.
Soon after consuming the formula, Ashaan developed severe constipation and muscle weakness, becoming so limp he could not lift his head. He was diagnosed with infant botulism linked to the formula by doctors at Randall Children’s Hospital in Portland.
Dr. Sylvia Peterson-Perry, Ashaan's family doctor, said: "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."
Ongoing Recovery and Mounting Legal Action
Ashaan was treated with BabyBIG, a specialised antibody medication. After an initial hospitalisation in November, his health deteriorated dramatically, leading to significant weight loss and a second hospital stay in December. "He was just withering away," Carter recalled. His muscles remain so weak that he has had to have his feeding tube replaced and is relearning how to crawl and talk.
While the caseworker texted a warning after the recall, it was too late for Ashaan. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports no new cases tied to this outbreak since December 17. The FDA has inspected ByHeart plants but has not released the contamination source.
Seattle food safety lawyer Bill Marler represents over 30 families affected, with at least 18 lawsuits filed against ByHeart and retailers. Marler has asked a federal panel to consolidate the cases in a U.S. district court in New York.
The PDX Diaper Bank confirmed it distributed over 300 of the 400 donated cans it received via the celebrity-backed non-profit Baby2Baby before the recall, stating partners took "immediate action to inform families."
