Multistate Infant Botulism Outbreak Associated with Powdered Infant Formula
AbstractThis report details the identification of an outbreak of infant botulism linked to powdered infant formula in the United States. In October 2025, the Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program, California Department of Public Health (IBTPP-CDPH) noted common powdered infant formula exposure among three neonates with suspected infant botulism. Subsequent laboratory analyses at CDPH identified <i>Clostridium botulinum</i> type A from an open container of ByHeart powdered infant formula associated with one infant with infant botulism. As of December 10, 2025, 51 suspected or confirmed infant botulism cases with exposure to ByHeart powdered infant formula had been identified across 19 states. All ByHeart powdered infant formula has been recalled nationwide.
Authors
- Rochelle Medford
- Julia M. Bracken
- Laura Whitlock
- Katie Yen Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3252-5226)
- Nir Dover
- Steven Grube (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8626-5266)
- Amanda Conrad
- Connie H. Chung
- Carolina Lúquez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3116-0069)
- Kerry A. Padgett (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9535-3401)
- Myra J. Brooks
- Ethel V. Taylor
- Janet K. Dykes
- Liz Lamere
- Jessica M. Khouri
- Jennifer S. Read
- Jacquelin L. Castonguay
- Jennifer R. Cope
- Claire Penzel-McNamara
- Jason R. Barash
- Aaron J. Judson
Institutions
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (US)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)
- United States Food and Drug Administration (US)
- California Department of Public Health (US)
- National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (US)
- Epidemic Intelligence Service (US)
- Food and Drug Administration (TH)
Publication Details
- Journal
- NEJM Evidence
- Published
- 2026-02-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1056/evidpha2600020
- Primary Topic
- Botulinum Toxin and Related Neurological Disorders
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00