ByHeart Infant Formula Botulism Outbreak: Still No Answers
The Food and Drug Administration has concluded its investigation into a baby botulism outbreak linked to powdered infant formula-but authorities still don't know how the contamination happened.
Despite multiple hypotheses, the FDA said in its epilogue released this week, "investigational findings could not identify the source or root cause of contamination."
Lawyer Calls Conclusion 'Underwhelming'
Bill Marler, a food safety attorney representing 25 of the sickened infants, called the findings "a little underwhelming, to put it mildly." He criticized the report for offering "no real clear guidance for consumers or for the companies going forward."
Companies Deflect Blame
ByHeart issued a statement saying the FDA "did not identify any deficiencies" at its facilities. Organic West Milk, one of the suppliers, stressed that "nothing has been proven about our milk yet." Dairy Farmers of America, another supplier, pointed the finger at Organic West.
Marler placed the ultimate responsibility squarely on ByHeart: "That is ByHeart's product, in ByHeart's can, with ByHeart's name on it, fed to a baby."
ByHeart says it's working to resume production and developing more sensitive testing for C. botulinum.