Parents Sue Baby Formula Company After Botulism Outbreak Affects Infant Health

Fri Dec 05 2025 04:49:54 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The lawsuits highlight the alarming connection between a well-marketed organic baby formula and serious health risks for infants, raising concerns about food safety standards.

Parents from Arizona and Kentucky have filed lawsuits against ByHeart, the manufacturer of an organic baby formula linked to a botulism outbreak. Their infants, aged four months, were hospitalized with severe symptoms after consuming the formula, leading to negligence claims. The outbreak has sickened at least 15 babies across the U.S. since August, prompting a nationwide recall of all ByHeart products. Experts warn that the situation underscores serious issues in food safety regulations and the importance of careful monitoring for symptoms of rare but severe illnesses in infants.

In a troubling turn of events, the parents of at least two infants affected by a botulism outbreak have initiated legal action against ByHeart, the company responsible for the baby formula in question. Stephen and Yurany Dexter from Flagstaff, Arizona, and Michael and Hanna Everett from Richmond, Kentucky, are raising alarms over the safety of the organic formula their children consumed, which they believed to be a healthier choice.

Both families faced harrowing experiences as their four-month-old daughters were hospitalized due to infantile botulism, a rare and dangerous illness. The lawsuits cite the formula as defective and accuse the company of negligence. The affected infants underwent treatments that included the administration of BabyBIG, an IV medication essential for combating botulism in young children.

Rose Dexter and Piper Everett are among a growing number of infants—at least 15 across a dozen states—who fell ill after consuming the ByHeart formula, which prompted the company to issue a nationwide recall.

Growing Concerns Over Food Safety

As they navigated the medical crisis, both families expressed shock at the severity of their children's illnesses. I would never expect a product designed for a helpless, developing human in the United States could cause something this severe, said Stephen Dexter, reflecting the parental anguish in this harrowing situation.

The situation reached a tipping point for many parents, especially after it was revealed that health officials had confirmed the presence of the bacteria leading to botulism in an opened can of ByHeart formula. According to California officials, the recalls impacted around 200,000 cans of formula sold monthly.

Legal experts suggest that the lawsuits could signal the beginning of a larger wave of litigation against ByHeart, highlighting the pressing need for stringent food safety standards in the industry. With families emphasizing their decisions to use what they believed to be organic and safe products, the implications of this incident resonate beyond just one brand.

As investigations continue, the health of these infants remains the priority, with both Rose and Piper currently recovering after treatment and now thriving on alternate formulas. The communities affected are left seeking assurances about the safety of products intended for their most vulnerable members.

Continuing this tragic narrative, parents are left reeling from the experience, now unsure about what alternatives they can trust to feed their children. In light of this, ByHeart has pledged to address the legal claims while focusing on informing families about the recall process and next steps.