Pierce County infant botulism case possibly linked to national outbreak, recalled formula

PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — A suspected infant botulism case in Pierce County may be linked to the national infant botulism outbreak linked to recalled ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department announced Friday.

The infant was diagnosed on Thursday and is being treated at a local hospital, according to health officials.

Infants are particularly vulnerable to botulism because their gut microbiomes are not developed enough to prevent the spores from germinating and producing the toxin. Babies may feel “floppy” and can have problems swallowing or breathing; they often need to be placed on ventilators.

Since August 2025, at least 23 cases have been identified in 13 states, including 1 case in an infant who resided in Lewis County at the time of exposure.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigation, including onsite inspections and sample collection, is ongoing to determine the point of contamination. FDA inspectors traveled to ByHeart’s infant formula production plants in Allerton, Iowa, and Portland, Oregon, this week, according to The Associated Press.

ByHeart infant formula products make up approximately 1% of all infant formula sold in the United States, and this outbreak does not create shortage concerns of infant formula, according to the FDA.

Although infant botulism is potentially fatal, no deaths have been reported in this outbreak so far. Several infants nationwide remain hospitalized, according to health officials.

The ByHeart brand powdered infant formula was sold through their website, and retailers such as Amazon, Kroger, Walmart, Whole Foods, and Target, and was widely distributed in Washington, according to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH)

Symptoms can take several weeks to develop, so parents should remain vigilant if they used the recalled lots of infant formula. Botulism symptoms can include poor feeding, loss of head control, drooping eyelids, and a flat facial expression.

If you have recently purchased a ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula:

• Do not use. Throw it away or return it to where you bought it. If you still have the container, record the lot number before discarding.
• Wash items and surfaces that may have touched the recalled formula using hot soapy water or a dishwasher.
• Seek immediate medical care if your infant has consumed ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula and has any of these symptoms: Poor feeding, loss of head control, difficulty swallowing, decreased facial expression.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.