Walmart, Target, Kroger kept selling contaminated baby formula: FDA
Federal regulators issued warning letters to four major retailers after discovering that recalled ByHeart baby formula, associated with a botulism outbreak, was still being sold on their shelves despite the recall.
The Food and Drug Administration’s Human Foods Program sent the letters to Walmart, Target, Kroger and Albertsons for selling or offering for sale infant formula that was deemed “adulterated” and linked to an outbreak affecting 51 babies in 19 states.
The FDA identified ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula as the source of the outbreak, which led to cases of infant botulism caused by exposure to Clostridium botulinum spores.
All 51 infants affected by the outbreak had consumed ByHeart formula before falling ill, according to the FDA.
ByHeart initially recalled specific batches of its formula on Nov. 8, followed by an expanded recall on Nov. 11 to include all ByHeart infant formula products.
Despite the recalls, FDA inspectors and state health officials discovered that the recalled formula was still being sold at stores operated by the four retailers in various locations across the country.
For instance, Walmart was found to have the recalled ByHeart formula on its shelves in 21 states from Nov. 12 to Nov. 26, even after the expanded recall.
The FDA noted that Walmart failed to take corrective action despite follow-up emails and communication with the company’s leadership.
Similar findings were reported for Target, with recalled formula still available in its stores in 20 states from Nov. 12 to Nov. 20, despite claims that the affected products were electronically blocked.
Kroger and Albertsons also faced citations for selling the recalled ByHeart formula in multiple states during the specified period.
Albertsons, including its subsidiaries, was found to have the recalled formula in stores across 11 states even after being notified of the recalls.
The FDA emphasized the responsibility of retailers to remove dangerous products promptly upon recall notification to prevent further exposure.
The investigation into the botulism outbreak is ongoing, and ByHeart has recalled all its infant formula products nationwide.
The FDA warned the retailers that failure to address the violations could lead to legal action, and each company has been given 15 working days to respond with a plan to prevent the sale of recalled products in the future.
Infant botulism is a serious condition caused by ingestion of spores that grow in the immature gut and produce a harmful toxin. Symptoms can include constipation, poor feeding, and respiratory issues.
As part of the investigation, the FDA, CDC, and state partners are analyzing unopened formula samples to identify any contamination.
Officials cautioned that detecting the bacteria in formula samples is challenging, and negative test results do not guarantee safety.
The FDA stressed the importance of retailers taking immediate action upon recall notices to prevent harm to consumers.
The Post reached out to ByHeart, Kroger, Walmart, and Target for comments on the issue.
