Oregon baby is still battling infant botulism after ByHeart formula exposure

A young boy in Portland, Oregon, continues to battle infant botulism after consuming contaminated ByHeart baby formula donated through a program that aims to help poor and homeless families. Ashaan Carter, now 10 months old, was hospitalized twice and remains on a feeding tube due to the severe infection.

His mother, Angel Carter, received a can of ByHeart formula from a case worker with the Oregon Department of Human Services in early November, days before a nationwide recall of the product. The formula was given to her as an alternative to breast milk, which she had been struggling to produce due to waning milk supply.

However, Ashaan soon developed severe constipation and muscle weakness after consuming the formula, becoming so limp that he couldn't move his head. He was treated with BabyBIG, an IV medication that provides antibodies to the infection to stop its progress.

Despite treatment, Ashaan's health rapidly declined, including dramatic weight loss, and he was hospitalized again in December. His mother reported that he had become "just withering away" due to the severity of his condition.

The Oregon caseworker who provided the formula had texted Angel Carter after the recall, warning her to stop using it. However, it was too late for Ashaan, who required a feeding tube replacement in his throat due to muscle weakness and has been forced to relearn how to crawl and talk.

Experts are expressing outrage over the situation, with Dr. Sylvia Peterson-Perry stating that "it's devastating, especially for our vulnerable families who trust this product to nourish their child." The case highlights concerns about the lack of oversight and regulation in the distribution of infant formula through non-profit programs.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported no new cases of infant botulism tied to the outbreak since December 17, but production remains shut down at ByHeart plants. At least 18 lawsuits have been filed against ByHeart and stores that sold the contaminated formula, with Seattle food safety lawyer Bill Marler representing over 30 families whose babies were affected.

The incident has raised questions about the accountability of companies like ByHeart and social services agencies that distribute infant formula to vulnerable populations.

Ugh this is so messed up...can you even imagine having to give your kid tainted formula just because they needed it? I mean, I know Angel Carter was struggling with low milk supply and all, but come on! ByHeart should've been more careful . Infant botulism is no joke, especially for tiny babies like Ashaan . And now he's gotta deal with a feeding tube replacement, crawling relearning...it's just heartbreaking . I'm so angry that the Oregon caseworker didn't warn her sooner about the recall . This whole thing just highlights how important it is to have proper regulations in place for these kinds of programs . Companies and social services gotta be held accountable for putting kids' lives at risk .

this is just heartbreaking what happened to Ashaan & his mom its such a tragedy how could they not know the formula was contaminated and what's even worse is that she relied on it bc her milk supply was waning i feel so bad for her ashans condition sounds like its been really rough from constipation to muscle weakness to almost dying anyway i hope hes getting better & receiving all the help he needs & his mom too

I'm shocked by this whole thing. I remember when my own little one was a baby, we just relied on breast milk or formula from reputable brands. It's crazy that this is happening in 2025 with all the advancements in medicine and regulations... or lack thereof . These non-profit programs are supposed to help out families in need, not put their kids' lives at risk. I feel so bad for Ashaan and his mom, Angel - it's just heartbreaking . The fact that the caseworker knew about the recall but still gave them the formula is just wrong . This whole situation needs to be investigated and some serious changes need to be made to ensure these vulnerable families get safe, reliable nutrition for their kids .

This is just so devastating for Ashaan's family! I mean, can you imagine if a case worker had checked if the formula was still good before giving it to his mom? It's not like they're trying to harm anyone on purpose, but it shows how easily mistakes can happen. The fact that ByHeart didn't even have an effective quality control system in place is just unacceptable. What kind of company doesn't prioritize the health and safety of their customers?

And what about all the families who are trusting social services to provide them with essential products for their kids? It's not like they're asking for much, just a safe and healthy way to feed their babies. Companies need to take responsibility for their actions and make sure that people like Ashaan don't get hurt because of it.

I'm literally shaking my head right now . How can a company be so reckless with people's lives?! Like, they knew this formula was a risk and still chose to donate it to families who are already struggling to make ends meet? It's just not right.

And what really gets me is that the Oregon caseworker was trying to warn Angel about the recall, but no one seems to be taking responsibility for this mess. The CDC should've been monitoring the formula more closely and the companies involved should be held accountable.

I'm all for helping families in need, but you can't just slap a band-aid on a problem like this. We need to make sure that everyone involved is doing their due diligence to ensure the safety of these children. It's just common sense .

This is just heartbreaking , you know, I was thinking about it and I realized that even with the best intentions, things can still go wrong if we're not careful. The whole system is in place to help these families, but sometimes it's a matter of being vigilant and paying attention to warnings signs. It's like Ashaan's mom was trying to do what she thought was right for her baby, but she didn't catch that red flag . It makes me think about how important it is to be aware of our surroundings and to not take things at face value. And also, it highlights the need for better regulation and oversight in these types of programs. It's a tough lesson to learn, but I guess we can all just try to be more mindful and look out for each other .

this is just wild Ashaan's story is literally heartbreaking and I'm so glad he's still alive but can you imagine what his mom went through? And it's not just her, there are other families out there who might be trusting the wrong products for their babies' needs... we need to make sure our social services programs are doing more checks on the companies they work with I mean, it's not like this is the first time a recall has happened or something but still, 10 months old Ashaan could've been gone by now... so many questions about accountability and oversight here

my heart is literally breaking for this poor baby Ashaan! a can of contaminated formula can have such devastating consequences... how could the Oregon Department of Human Services not do more checks on the product before distributing it? and what about all those families who trusted ByHeart to provide their babies with safe food? 18 lawsuits is just the beginning, I hope justice is served for these innocent families. we need to make sure something like this never happens again...

Ugh, I'm literally so annoyed by this... The fact that a kid had to go through all this because some company couldn't even get their formula right is just crazy. And it's not just the company's fault, the system for regulating non-profit programs is super broken too . Like, shouldn't there be more checks in place to ensure these products are safe? It's devastating that Ashaan and other families have to go through this... I mean, I get that mistakes happen but it's just so avoidable. ByHeart needs to do way more than just shut down production for a bit

This is just heartbreaking what's happening to Ashaan & his mom. I mean, you can't even be careful enough anymore, it's like the system fails. They gave him a formula that was recalled days before but still got it out to him. And by the time they found out, it was too late, literally. He almost didn't make it . It makes me wanna cry thinking about those poor families who trust these non-profits & companies with their kids' lives. The CDC's slow response is also worrying, especially when you consider how many are affected... it's like they're not doing enough to stop the spread of this formula . I guess we'll just have to wait and see how this all plays out in court .

omg i cant even right now this is just too sad Ashaan's story is breaking my heart he was just a tiny baby who didnt deserve all this...i mean i know formula is important but come on ppl! how do we make sure these programs are safe and regulated? its not just about the companies, its also about the people working in those agencies...they must be feeling so bad too my heart goes out to Ashaan's mom Angel too, she was just trying to take care of her baby and ended up getting into this nightmare can we please get more awareness on how to prevent these kinds of cases from happening again? also i wonder what the CDC is doing to investigate this further? are they looking into how the formula got contaminated in the first place?

This is a heartbreaking case that highlights the need for stricter regulations in the distribution of infant formula, especially through non-profit programs. The lack of oversight can have devastating consequences, as we've seen with Ashaan's battle against infant botulism. It's unacceptable that Angel Carter was given contaminated formula, which she trusted to provide her baby with essential nutrition. The CDC's response to the situation is also concerning, with no new cases reported since December 17, yet production remains shut down at ByHeart plants.

The fact that experts are expressing outrage over this case is a testament to the severity of the issue. We need to hold companies like ByHeart and social services agencies accountable for their actions. The number of lawsuits filed against these entities is just the beginning – we should be seeing more stringent regulations put in place to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. It's time for change, and it starts with better oversight and accountability.

this is just so sad... but at the same time, i'm kinda glad it's bringing attention to the need for better oversight and regulation in non-profit programs. think about it, if we can't even trust a system meant to help our most vulnerable families, how do we even fix it? meanwhile, ashaa'n & his fam are fighting 4 survival... let's hope they get thru this

OMG, this is so heartbreaking . I mean, can you even imagine receiving baby formula as a gift, only to find out it's been recalled due to contamination? It's like, what are the chances?! But here's the thing - it's not just about the formula, it's about how our system is supposed to work. I mean, we have these programs in place to help families in need, but apparently, they're not doing enough to ensure that the products are safe. It's a huge wake-up call for us all to make sure that these organizations are held accountable .

And you know what? This could actually lead to some major changes and improvements! Like, the CDC reporting no new cases since December 17 is a good sign, but it also means we need to be vigilant and keep monitoring those programs. And who knows, maybe this will inspire more people to speak up and demand better for our most vulnerable families .

Ugh, this is so heartbreaking ... I was thinking about my little cousin's mom who's been struggling to breastfeed her baby too, and now this case just makes me really worried. The fact that Ashaan got contaminated with the formula and almost died from it is just devastating . I don't think it's fair that a family in need like them gets affected by something like this. I mean, can you even imagine? The Oregon Department of Human Services thought they were helping out, but instead they ended up causing more harm . This whole situation is just a big mess and I hope the people responsible for distributing that formula are held accountable .

this is just heartbreaking ... how can a program meant to help struggling fams end up causing so much harm? it's like they're playing with lives here ... 18 lawsuits isn't enough, in my opinion ... I think there needs to be stricter checks on what these companies are doing before they hand out product to families who cant afford it ... and whats up with that text from the caseworker after the recall? why didnt she do more to warn angel and ashaan?!

This is just horrific, poor little Ashaan . Can't believe they gave him contaminated formula without checking if it was safe first . And what's even more shocking is that the caseworker texted his mom after the recall, but she still gave it to him... like what could've been done differently?

And honestly, can we talk about how messed up our system is when companies are prioritizing profits over people and safety? Like, ByHeart's motto should be "We care more about our bottom line than your baby's life" . And the lack of oversight is just unacceptable... I mean, come on CDC, you're supposed to monitor these things!

It's heartbreaking for families like Ashaan's who are just trying to survive and their kids get hurt because of corporate greed . We need some serious changes in our system, stat!

I'm literally shaking my head right now this is just so devastating for Ashaan's family... how can a non-profit program make such a huge mistake?! it's one thing to have a recall happen, but for them to give out tainted formula that almost killed the baby?! and what really gets me is that they had already been warned about the recall via text yet Ashaan still got sick. this whole situation just reeks of neglect and incompetence it's heartbreaking for the little guy who will have to live with the long-term effects of this.