Botulism Outbreak Linked to Infant Formula Expands to 15 States

A person holds a container of ByHeart baby formula, which was recently recalled by ByHeart, in Flagstaff, Ariz., on Nov. 12, 2025. Cheyanne Mumphrey/AP PhotoAn infant botulism outbreak has expanded to 15 states, and now impacts 31 children, with all of them being hospitalized, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a Nov. 20 statement.Infant botulism occurs when babies eat food or beverages that have spores from a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. The spores grow in the gut and make toxins, according to the agency. Symptoms of infant botulism include constipation, poor feeding, weak suckling, a loss of head and muscle control, drooping eyelids, lethargy, a lack of facial expression, and a weak cry, according to the Cleveland Clinic.