Long Island baby hospitalized with rare but ‘potentially fatal’ illness linked to recalled formula

A Long Island baby was hospitalized with a suspected case of botulism after drinking formula linked to a recent outbreak of the potentially fatal illness, Nassau County officials said Tuesday.

The child — who is less than a year old — had consumed ByHeart formula, which has been linked to 15 confirmed or suspected infant botulism cases that resulted in hospitalizations in 12 states since August, according the federal Food and Drug Administration.

The Long Island baby is “in stable condition,” according to the county Department of Health.

The case is the first tied to the suspected outbreak in New York, but there have been previous cases or possible cases in Pennsylvania and New Jersey as well as Rhode Island, California and Texas, according to officials.

ByHeart voluntarily recalled all of its products on Tuesday, following the Saturday recall of two specific product lots: Lot 206VABP/251261P2 – “Use by 01 Dec 2026” and Lot 206VABP/251131P2 – “Use by 01 Dec 2026.”

Parents of children less than a year old should be mindful of infant botulism symptoms such as constipation, poor feeding habits, weakness, particularly in the infant’s facial area, along with weak crying, and difficulty breathing, county health officials said.

Botulism can be “potentially fatal” and presents “a serious threat to the health of infants,” according to the FDA.

The symptoms may appear up to a month after exposure, and early treatment can become lifesaving, health officials said.

Nassau also “urges” parents to discard recalled ByHeart products and monitor their babies for symptoms.